NLC and TUC Strike Enters Day 2 As Fuel Scarcity Hits Part of Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt Residents in for a Long New Year's Day 2023 as Fuel Stations Remain Closed
In Port Harcourt, Nigeria, the NLC and TUC declared an indefinite strike starting on June 3rd, 2024, over a disagreement with the Federal Government regarding a new minimum wage. This strike, which was in solidarity with the NLC, saw the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) directing all its units nationwide to cease operations. The strike was a response to the government’s failure to implement a new minimum wage for workers in light of the country’s economic challenges.
The strike action led to a significant disruption in the distribution of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as fuel. This, coupled with the closure of many filling stations in various states including Kaduna, Ogun, and the Federal Capital Territory, resulted in a fuel scarcity that began to hit part of Port Harcourt.
On the second day of the strike, June 4th, 2024, the situation in Port Harcourt was tense. The NLC blocked the entrance and exit of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, a move that was met with mixed reactions from the public. Meanwhile, the Federal Government, in an attempt to resolve the issue, invited the NLC and TUC for an emergency meeting.
The strike had far-reaching effects on the city’s business activities, which were paralyzed. The strike also affected the education sector, with students stranded due to the shutdown of transportation services. The situation was further exacerbated by the shutdown of the National Grid by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which led to the cancellation of flights.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) had earlier urged the Federal Government to keep to its promise and reopen the old Port Harcourt Refinery to end the fuel scarcity. The TUC president, Festus Osifo, expressed dismay over the lingering fuel scarcity and the suffering it has brought to Nigerians.
As the strike enters its second day, the people of Port Harcourt, and indeed the whole of Nigeria, are left wondering how long the hardship will last. The government’s response to the strike and the outcome of the emergency meeting with the NLC and TUC will be crucial in determining the next course of action.
In the midst of all this, one thing is certain: the people of Port Harcourt are resilient. They have weathered many storms before and will surely do so again. As the famous saying goes, “This too shall pass.”
