Lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Wednesday criticised organised labour for shutting down essential services, especially the national grid and hospitals, during the industrial action that lasted more than 24 hours.
While most lawmakers who spoke at a plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu maintained that industrial actions and dissent are fundamental rights within the democratic space and must be protected, they argued that how labour conducted itself during the just-suspended strike showed a lack of empathy for Nigerians.
Lawmakers expressed their views while debating a motion of urgent national importance on “The urgent need to consider the imperativeness of fixing a living wage for Nigerian workers to ameliorate the current economic hardship,” moved by Minority Whip and member representing Balanga/Billiri constituency, Gombe State, Isa Ali.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) suspended their nationwide strike after reaching an agreement with the federal government. The labour unions said the strike action was relaxed for one week to allow the conclusion of negotiations with the federal government.
Until the strike was suspended on Tuesday morning, millions of Nigerians were without electricity after the national grid was shut down by labour. Also, hospital workers were unavailable to attend to patients, and many flights were cancelled at the country’s busiest airport in Lagos, and in the capital, Abuja, leaving passengers stranded.
The Deputy Speaker drew attention to the Trade Dispute Act, which he said restricts labour unions from shutting down certain sectors during industrial action.
Kalu stated this after a member representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma, Obuku Oforji, threw his weight behind the decision of labour to shut down the electricity and aviation sectors.
Aforji said: “Why are we apportioning blame to labour? Already, even members of the labour unions cannot access power. It is meant for people alone in government. To me, even the light and aviation industries that they shut down, I am in support. Let’s consider an increase in the minimum wage, but I want labour to be sensitive to something in the country because inflation is rising. While we want an increase in the minimum wage, we should do it in line with the economy so we won’t overshoot inflation.
Interjecting, the deputy speaker asked the lawmaker to be mindful of Section 31 (6) of the Trade Unions Act, which he said prescribed conditions for trade unions to meet before calling its members to go on strike, especially when the employee is engaged in the provision of essential services.
“A lawmaker must speak according to the law. The law grants workers the right to strike, but there are limitations. You can find that in Section 31 of the Trade Dispute Act. It restricts strikes in essential services, so it is not in line when we as lawmakers are saying they acted well when they act in variance.
“Section 31 subsection six prohibits workers from engaging in a strike if they are providing essential service, which includes public service, the supply of electricity, power, water, and fuel.
“This is our law. According to the Trade Dispute Act, you can’t wake up and say the radio should not work. It is anarchy. It also says public health services like hospitals, fire service, and their disruption is seen as having severe consequences.”
The Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, also urged his colleagues to speedily amend the minimum wage bill, as it did with the national anthem, saying that if President Bola Tinubu refuses to assent to it, he should be overridden by the National Assembly.
The lawmaker representing Obio/Akpor Constituency, Rivers State, however, aligned with his colleagues when he said labour overstepped their boundaries by shutting down the electricity grid.
Chinda said: “Security and welfare are the primary purposes of government. Can we say as a government we have successfully provided that primary purpose? Have we provided security and welfare? The answer is no. This is because it is as if one Nigerian life is one minute of silence. Someone earns N50,000, and you think the person can depend on salary; it is not possible. How much is transport fare and rent? Let me be realistic.
“Let’s provide for welfare by providing a living wage for tomorrow. It is not good when the government is talking about a minimum wage instead of a living wage. I will commend Labor for shelving the strike interim. I will also say sometimes when we embark on some of these actions, we should not overstep boundaries. Shutting down power does not make sense. Once you have a good cause, you should follow the proper procedure.
“So just like we passed the National Anthem bill with speed, we should also pass the Minimum Wage Act and pass that act with the speed of light. That is the only way we can show solidarity to Nigerian workers, and where the executive refuses to assent, I think it will be on us to override Mr. President.”
Also, a member representing Ibadan North-West/South West Federal Constituency, Adedeji Stanley, stressed the need for the federal government to criminalise shutting down essential services during a strike.
He said many people have died due to the actions of organised labour.
“We have to criminalise the part where we shut down the national grid during a strike. It is killing the same people we are protecting. You cannot go under industrial action and kill people legally. I think we need to take this seriously,” he stated.
The lawmaker representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Plateau, said the lawmakers must take charge in discharging their responsibilities.
“The primary duty of government is protection of life and property of the people. If the action of the trade union which is legitimate negates the provision of essential service, I don’t think they are being fair to the people of this country. We should be more concerned about the conditions of 200 million Nigerians”.
Member representing Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie Federal Constituency seat in Delta State, Benedict Etanabene, however, cautioned his colleagues, saying lawmakers should focus on providing solutions to the issue rather than lambasting the labour unions
“I think if we continue like this, the one-week ultimatum would have passed and we won’t be making headway. We have been talking about advice, not solutions. Even if we are on a side of the law, someone who has not eaten and you are asking that person to guide national grid,” he said.
At the end of the debate, the house urged the government to redirect the focus of the negotiations from fixing a new minimum wage to fixing a realistic living wage for Nigerians.
It also appealed to the federal government to further consider the downward review of electricity tariff, to reduce the suffering of Nigerians.
