LABOUR COMMENCES STRIKE OVER LIVING WAGE AS NASS INTERVENTION FAILS .... .. threatens to cripple the country as various affiliate unions join

NASS INTERVENTION FAILS AS LABOUR COMMENCES INDEFINITE STRIKE ON MONDAY 3RD JUNE... 

... Threatens to cripple the country as various affiliate unions join 

By Emma Asiegbunam ANipr (MR E) 

As the last minute intervention by the NASS leadership to meet with NLC and TUC leaders so as to prevent the impending strike, reportedly ends in deadlock with no agreement reached (Labour refused to suspend the strike or reduce its request of N494,000 as living wage for workers),  it is worthy to note that should this strike take off as planned, it will lead to a total shut down of ALL services in Nigeria. 

This is because many key unions under these two association, have all been mobilized and have instructed their members to embark on strike with effect from midnight today. 

 Apart from conventional civil servants, Banks, Electricity workers, Hospitals, Schools, Oil and gas and petroleum, courts, Transporters, aviation and  artisans in the private sector will be joining the strike through these their individual unions below;

1. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

2. Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN),

3. Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), 

4. National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE),

5. Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN),

6. Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NURW), 

7. National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE),

8. Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG),

9. Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN),

10. Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), 

11. National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW),

12. Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP),

13. Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation, Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services Employees (AUPCTRE), 

14. Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC).

15. Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN)

If Labour has its way and sticks to its guns, this might just be the mother of all strikes in recent time. 

However, many Nigerians are of the opinion that the current leadership of NLC and TUC under Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo respectively, are weak and cowardly at  best and compromised at worst. The strike according to skeptics like me, may not last beyond the first three days. Labour will soon be cowed via the courts  or coerced via the security agencies or compromised via underhand deals to prematurely call off the strike, that is if it ever takes off.