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Why We Shutdown National Grid – Organised Labour
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has provided clarification on the decision to shut down the national grid, dismissing claims by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) that labour union members attacked workers at their facilities.
The NLC emphasized that the shutdown was a deliberate action taken as part of the indefinite nationwide strike declared by the labour unions.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, explained that the union had issued a notice to the Federal government in May 2024 regarding the non-completion of the National Minimum Wage negotiation exercise and the passage into law, as well as the hike in electricity tariff.
According to Ajaero, the union had demanded the completion of the wage-setting process and a reversal of the hike in electricity tariff back to N66/kWh, but received no positive response from the government.
Ajaero faulted TCN for spreading falsehood, saying: “The Nigeria Labour Congress categorically states that Nigerian workers will not be intimidated by the management of any organisation or government entity over our rightful decision to withdraw services.”
He added: “The spreading of outright falsehood to mislead the public instead of working with other stakeholders to resolve the issues raised by Nigerian workers via the NLC and TUC is not helpful in any way.”
The NLC president denied TCN’s claims of manhandling workers, stating: “One wonders whether TCN’s management needs education on the dynamics of industrial action? It is not true that we manhandled anybody in any TCN location.”
Ajaero explained that the withdrawal of services by workers in the electricity sector led to the shutdown of the national grid, emphasizing that “without workers, no wheel can turn; no work can take place anywhere.”
NLC President explained that the union had issued a notice to the Federal government in May 2024 regarding the non-completion of the National Minimum Wage negotiation exercise and the passage into law, as well as the hike in electricity tariff.
According to Ajaero, the union had demanded the completion of the wage-setting process and a reversal of the hike in electricity tariff back to N66/kWh, but received no positive response from the government.
Ajaero faulted TCN for spreading falsehood, saying: “The Nigeria Labour Congress categorically states that Nigerian workers will not be intimidated by the management of any organisation or government entity over our rightful decision to withdraw services.”
He added: “The spreading of outright falsehood to mislead the public instead of working with other stakeholders to resolve the issues raised by Nigerian workers via the NLC and TUC is not helpful in any way.”
The NLC president denied TCN’s claims of manhandling workers, stating, “One wonders whether TCN’s management needs education on the dynamics of industrial action? It is not true that we manhandled anybody in any TCN location.” Ajaero explained that the withdrawal of services by workers in the electricity sector led to the shutdown of the national grid, emphasizing that “without workers, no wheel can turn; no work can take place anywhere.”
Ajaero warned TCN against using military force, saying: “The management of TCN would be held liable for any injury inflicted on any worker by their resort to the use of the powers of the military.” He added, “Deploying military men to its locations is a clear abuse and insult to the military, especially in a democracy.”
The NLC remains committed to the struggle for a fair living wage and reversal of the excessive electricity tariff hike, calling on Nigerians to stand in solidarity with them. Ajaero concluded, “We will not back down, and we will not give in to any blackmail, intimidation, or harassment. We demand the implementation of policies that prioritize the well-being of the people,” he added.
By Eric Elezuo
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has been declared winner of the presidential primary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The declaration was made at the Trascorp Hilton Hotel, where the final collation of results was made.
The former Vice President polled a total of 1, 846, 370 votes to defeat his closest rival, former Governor of Rivers State, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, who scored just over 500 thousand votes. Alhaji Muhammed Hayatu-Deen came third.
Headlines
ADC Presidential Primary: Hayatu-Deen Alleges Rigging, Withdraws from Results Announcement
One of the presidential aspirants of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, says he will not attend the announcement of the party’s presidential primary election results, citing allegations of widespread vote rigging.
In a statement on his X handle on Tuesday, Hayatu-Deen expressed concern over reports of electoral irregularities from across the country.
The ADC aspirant noted that he witnessed some of the incidents.
“I will not be attending the announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results today. I am concerned by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I myself observed, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps,” the statement read.
The development comes amid keen competition for the ADC presidential ticket involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Transportation and former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and Hayatu-Deen.
The ADC presidential primary election collation exercise will take place in Abuja. Results are expected from across the nation.
Ahead of the nationwide presidential primary held on Monday, the ADC had urged aspirants, party leaders, delegates, and members to conduct themselves peacefully and uphold party unity.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the exercise as a defining moment for both the ADC and Nigerians seeking a credible political alternative.
According to him, the party remained committed to internal democracy and a transparent leadership selection process.
“The ADC remains proud to stand today as the only truly democratic party in Nigeria because it is the only political party whose choice of presidential candidate is determined through open primaries,” Abdullahi stated.
The party also stressed that the conduct of aspirants and party members during the exercise would reflect the leadership culture the ADC seeks to promote.
Headlines
You’re Not Different from APC, INEC, Amaechi Slams ADC, Rejects Presidential Primary Results
A former Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has rejected the results of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential primaries, alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement and electoral malpractice.
Amaechi, in a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, described the outcome of the exercise as “concocted results.”
He said he had earlier made it clear that he would only accept the outcome of the primaries if the process was free, fair and transparent.
“I will not accept results from a process that does not reflect the values that the ADC had pledged to uphold,” he said.
Amaechi alleged that about 80 percent of party members across the country were prevented from voting during the exercise.
“There’s no way that about eighty percent of members of the party were not allowed to vote, and you expect me to accept such results,” he stated.
The former Governor of Rivers State accused the party of engaging in practices it had previously condemned in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, the ADC cannot criticize vote buying, rigging and manipulation of election results by others while allegedly engaging in similar acts during its own primary.
Amaechi added that the development was unacceptable and contrary to the ideals upon which the party was founded.
