Senate President Godswill Akpabio has condemned the decision of organised labor to shut down the national grid, describing it as “economic sabotage.”
Gatekeepers News reports that Akpabio made the statement on the floor of the senate on Tuesday, in response to a motion sponsored by Senator Diket Plang, representing Plateau central, on the indefinite strike by labor unions.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had embarked on a nationwide strike on Monday, demanding a new minimum wage for workers.
The strike paralyzed government and economic activities, leading to the shutdown of the national grid.
However, labor unions relaxed the strike on Tuesday to allow for further negotiations with the federal government.
Akpabio criticised the disruption of the West African School Certificate Examination (WAEC) and hajj flights by labor unionists, saying “the shutdown of the national grid…is more of an economic sabotage than agitation for a new minimum wage.”
He commended labor for suspending the strike, saying “On our part, we will continue to do our best by making contributions and, at the same time, awaiting the incoming bill on minimum wage for us to enact for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
The senate adopted a motion calling on the federal government to expedite negotiations to end the strike.
