Strike Continues as Labour Cuts Down Water Supply to Senate, House of Reps

The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has taken a dramatic step by cutting off water supply to the Senate and the House of Representatives. This is part of a broader, indefinite strike that has now gripped the entire National Assembly.

As of early this morning, access to the National Assembly was barred, with entrances and exits sealed off by two coastal buses strategically placed by PASAN members. This act of defiance is in response to the federal government’s steadfast refusal to negotiate a substantial increase in the minimum wage, currently set at N60,000.

The strike, now permeating every corner of governmental operations, has seen a sharp halt in not only water but also electricity supplies to the essential buildings of the legislative arm. 

This shutdown has effectively crippled the daily functions and operations within the Senate and the House of Representatives, highlighting the significant impact of the strike.

The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have jointly declared the strike following the failure of a tripartite committee, established by the federal government, to agree on a new, fair minimum wage. 

The unions are demanding a minimum wage increase to N494,000, a proposal that was flatly rejected during last night’s intense three-hour meeting between the National Assembly leadership, labour representatives, and top officials from the Executive branch.