Shutdown of National Grid is economic sabotage, perpetrators must be held accountable – Reps
House of Representatives
Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The House of Representatives on Wednesday said the shutdown of the national grid during Labour unions protest constituted economic sabotage, as perpetrators must be held accountable.
The House of Representatives in a statement by its spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, shutting down such critical infrastructure is detrimental to the well-being of our country.
“Importantly, the shutdown of critical infrastructure, such as the national grid, constitutes economic sabotage and is detrimental to the well-being of our country. Those responsible for these actions must be held accountable,” the statement said.
The lawmakers also said they acknowledged the recent industrial action undertaken by the NLC and the TUC due to the breakdown in negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
“The People’s House is pleased to note that the strike action has been suspended for one week to allow for further negotiation.
“During this period, as we have previously demonstrated, the People’s House remains responsive and committed to actively engaging all stakeholders to resolve the issues in the best interest of Nigerians.
“House Speaker Abbas Tajudeen has consistently advocated a living wage and better working conditions for workers,” the lawmakers said.
The statement said at various fora, he has emphasised the importance of addressing key national priorities, including the state of the economy and insecurity, through legislative action.
The lawmakers said while the Green Chamber is in full support of the call for improved wages and working conditions, there is a great need to exercise caution in increasing the minimum wage beyond what the economy could sustain to avoid unintended outcomes such as inflation, layoffs, and other adverse economic consequences.
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The House of Reps restated the importance of approaching this issue from a balanced perspective to ensure long-term stability and prosperity for all.
The lawmaker added that they observed with concern the direction of the strike before its suspension and what it portended for the future.
They statement said the lawmakers also found it troubling that the leadership of the Organised Labour, the majority of who live far above the means of the average Nigerian, would engage in actions that exacerbated the suffering of ordinary citizens.
According to the lawmakers, it is necessary, therefore, to state that while industrial actions and dissent are fundamental rights within the democratic space that must be protected, the manner in which Labour conducted itself during the just-suspended strike largely showed a lack of empathy for Nigerians.
The statement said: “Is the objective of the leadership of the unions to compel the government to implement a living wage or to inflict pain on Nigerians?
“Additionally, it is important to address persistent misinformation and disinformation propagated by organised Labour leadership regarding the earnings of lawmakers.
“This is especially because organised Labour has, for years, contributed to false narratives about the remuneration of members of the National Assembly, exaggerating figures to stoke public resentment and undermine the credibility of the Legislature.
“This tactic diverts attention from the core issues at stake and unfairly vilifies the institution of parliament. It is crucial for all parties to engage in an honest and transparent dialogue rather than resorting to the spread of inaccuracies for political leverage.”
