The Nigeria Labour Congress has defended the decision of workers in the electricity sector to shut down the national grid on Monday, dismissing claims by the Transmission Company of Nigeria that NLC’s monitoring team attacked workers manning TCN facilities.

In a strongly-worded statement on Monday, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero tackled the TCN, stating that “Nigerian workers will not be intimidated by any form of falsehood dished out by TCN or any other agency or organisation of the government.”
The statement read: “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 through the indefinite nationwide strike that commenced earlier this morning.”

Ajaero accused the TCN of spreading “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.”

The NLC chief further stated, “It will rather inflame the anger of the suffering masses who are already burdened by the cruel policies of the federal government.”
Addressing the TCN’s claims directly, the statement said, “It is not true that anybody was manhandled by us in any TCN location. Maybe, TCN in its effort to scuttle the strike tried to force workers to be at work not realising the resolve of all workers to stay away.”

Ajaero questioned TCN’s understanding of industrial action dynamics, asking, “Why would the grid not go down when the workers who operate them decide to withdraw their service? That is how it works and it further demonstrates that without workers, no wheel can turn; no work can take place anywhere.”

The NLC defended its actions, stating, “Nigerian workers, led by the NLC and TUC, have exercised due caution and unusual patience in our engagement with our social partners, and this restraint has been grossly abused, unfortunately, which has led us to the present impasse.”
The labour union also condemned TCN’s alleged use of military personnel to intimidate workers, warning, “The NLC and TUC remain steadfast in their commitment to the emancipation of downtrodden Nigerians and will persist in the struggle for a fair and just living wage, as well as the reversal of the excessive electricity tariff hike.”

Ajaero called on Nigerians to stand in solidarity with the strike action, stating, “We will not back down, and we will not give in to any blackmail, intimidation, or harassment.”

The national grid shutdown and subsequent controversy followed the NLC’s indefinite strike over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage and the recent hike in electricity tariffs.