Amid the ongoing dispute between the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Federal Government regarding the proposed minimum wage, Nigerian citizens have flocked to social media, pleading with the labor union to avoid disrupting the national grid in the event of a strike.
The NLC recently rejected the government’s offers of either ₦62,000 or ₦100,000 as the new minimum wage. Assistant General Secretary Chris Onyeka criticized these figures as a “starvation wage” during an interview on Channels Television.
The NLC stands firm on their demand for a ₦250,000 minimum wage, which Onyeka believes is a reasonable compromise in the current situation.
As the one-week deadline for the federal government expired on June 11, 2024, Nigerians expressed worries on social media about the potential repercussions of a nationwide strike on the power sector.
Concerned citizens like @TaoFeek182 urged the NLC, “Please, do not disrupt the national grid. I beg you.”
Similarly, @Ishow_leck echoed this sentiment, saying, “Please stay away from the power grid this time. Let’s stay home peacefully.”
Previous power outages have left many Nigerians without electricity for extended periods, prompting calls to spare the national grid during any potential strike action.
Furthermore, @KhadijaGarba19 cautioned the NLC to be mindful of losing public support if essential services are affected by the strike.
Citizens, like @Letter_to_Jack, appealed, “Do what you must, but refrain from touching the National Grid this time. Think of those in hospitals and ICU who rely on electricity.”
Among the differing opinions, @Emmanuelkalu546 advocated for shutting down the national grid as a form of protest.
On the other hand, @AdeyemiGCFR supported the idea of a widespread shutdown, starting with the National Grid.
Similarly, @Dambatta_1 called for a comprehensive strike, targeting various sectors to bring the country to a standstill.
Adding to the dialogue, @umohjoe criticized the government’s insensitivity towards the Nigerian people and supported the idea of shutting down the national grid if it leads to a resolution.