The ongoing strike by the Nigeria Labor Congress entered its second day on Thursday with the Nigeria Labor Congress threatening to cut power supply nationwide

The threat came shortly before the congress leaders met with the representatives of the Federal Government for six hours in Abuja.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, hinted after the meeting that the crisis might soon be over.

The International Affairs Officer of the NLC, Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, had told newsmen in Abuja that directives had been given to affiliates of the congress in the power sector to cut supply if the government failed to revert the price of fuel from N70 to N65.

Oyrinde said, “We have already given instructions to our affiliate bodies to shut down the power sector by Friday if the government does not do something by midnight on Thursday”.

However, he said it was not the intention of labor to make ordinary Nigerians suffer in any way but to bring additional pressure on the government.

“We hope this may not have to happen. That is why we are also desirous that the government takes the right steps to resolve this issue in the interest of the Nigerian masses,” he said.

Currently, Nigeria generates about 3,200MW, according to the estimates of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria in May.

PHCN’S installed capacity is about 6,000 MW. With a population of about 150m, the PHCN has resorted to electricity rationing nationwide. But labor has decided to ensure a total blackout.

The situation may however be worsened going by a warning by the Nigerian Medical Association that it might join the strike if the government failed to meet labor’s demands.

Already, the strike has grounded the nation’s maritime industry.

At the seaport in Lagos, no fewer than 40 ships laden with goods were said to be stranded.

The President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Mr. Usman Sanusi, who made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria, added that the ships that had berthed recently were not being attended to because dockworkers were not working.

Sanusi said that the nation lost average revenue of $8,000 per day on a ship during strike or lock-outs.

The President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Mr. Lucky Amiwero, said that a major problem that would be encountered by the agents and importers after the strike would be how to pay demurrage incurred by shipping companies.

Amiwero said that terminal operators had never waived charges as it used to be done by the Nigerian Ports Authority during strikes.

He said, “Shipping companies and terminal operators should oblige us with waivers on rents and demurrage in situation of strikes, lock-outs and public holidays.’’

The National Vice-President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Mr. Dayo Abdul Azeez, said that though the strike had paralyzed operations at the ports, ANLCA members were in support of the industrial action.

The Public Relations Officer of the Apapa Area 1 Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, Mr. Dera Nnadi, said that the gates to the ports were locked because NPA workers were members of the NLC.

The strike also took its toll on the health sector in Lagos state as patients were hurriedly discharged from the Lagos State University Teaching hospital.

In Ogun State, relations withdrew patients from the General hospital, Abeokuta due to shortage of staff.

Residents of Ekiti State also had it rough as they had to contend with outage, cash crunch and lack of potable water.

The strike was, however, hijacked by hoodlums in Jos, Plateau State. The hoodlums were said to have invaded the markets and forced traders to close their shops.

Hoodlums also almost hijacked the strike in Akure, Ondo State when they unleashed terror on taxi drivers and their passengers.

In Ibadan, Oyo State, labor unions successfully shut the two access gates to the University of Ibadan.

Our correspondent in Calabar, Cross River State, reported that flight operations at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, were also brought to a halt as a result of the strike.

In Abuja, where the Peoples Democratic Party appealed to labor to save Nigerians from further hardship by calling off the strike, the NLC stepped up its monitoring efforts to ensure full compliance by workers.

The NLC President, Mr. AbdulWaheed Omar, led a team which visited the headquarters of the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mobilize workers.

In Abuja, Lagos, and other parts of the country, schools, markets, banks as well as public and private offices were firmly shut.

Major highways and streets in Lagos were deserted as residents remained indoors, especially in the early hours of the day.

At about 9am when our correspondents visited some parts of Lagos metropolis, some of the streets and even a few areas along Ikorodu road came partially alive.

In many homes, those who were not in bed occupied themselves with either indoor games or household chores.

The Federal Government on Monday night insisted that there was no cause for alarm.

Kingibe had after the meeting with the labor leaders told journalists that the resolution of the crisis was in the offing.

The SGF said the two parties would reconvene at midnight on Thursday to take a definite decision.

He said, “We have had six useful hours reviewing the hardship which the Nigerian people have been exposed to by the ongoing strike.

“We have been trying to find a way around to bring relief to the people and the economy. I believe we have had some ideas which we have passed to each other. And I believe that when we reconvene at midnight, hopefully, we would find our way through.

“But the government is ready and had shown extreme flexibility in the course of this engagement.

“I believe we have gotten over the area of contention, we are now in the area of engagement. We are discussing creative ways through which we can bring relief to the Nigerian people. We would come back at midnight with fresh ideas.”