June 4, 2024, marks another pivotal day in Nigeria’s ongoing narrative of struggle and resilience. As dawn broke, the nation was plunged into darkness not by natural occurrences, but by power outages caused by organized labor.
Here are the highlights from Nigerian newspapers for today:
- Organized Labor initiated an indefinite strike, leading to nationwide power outages after shutting down the national grid in protest of stalled minimum wage talks.
- Following the first day of the indefinite strike, the Federal Government has agreed to a minimum wage higher than N60,000, as outlined in a communique issued after negotiations.
- The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) expressed concern over the strike’s impact on Nigerian pilgrims and the airlifting operation by the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), noting that striking aviation workers caused a plane sent for airlifting to Saudi Arabia to return empty.
- Comrade Daniel Umaru Lagi, father of former Nasarawa State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Innocent Lagi, was killed by unidentified gunmen following his abduction in Wamba a few days prior.
- In Jos, Plateau State, hoodlums attacked members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) enforcing the ongoing indefinite strike, resulting in injuries and hospitalizations.
- Organized Labor remains steadfast as the indefinite strike against stalled minimum wage negotiations and the electricity tariff hike enters its second day.
- Former Sokoto State governor and Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, cautioned President Bola Tinubu against dissociating himself from administrative failures, stating Tinubu was part of the problem.
- The police in Abuja launched an investigation into the transfer of approximately N1 billion by a bureau de change operator, Shamsudeen Ahmed, who allegedly transferred the funds through three banks to suspected criminals.
- Financial technology company, OPay, reiterated its prohibition of cryptocurrency and virtual asset trading on its platform, prioritizing compliance with legal and regulatory obligations.
- Three individuals narrowly escaped death in a road accident involving two vehicles on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at the Magboro junction around 6:30 pm on Monday.
In sum, June 4th offers a kaleidoscopic view of modern Nigeria—a nation where labor disputes can darken cities, where religious duties clash with work stoppages, where political legacies are fiercely debated, and where everyday citizens juggle hopes of better wages with risks on the road. It’s a complex tableau, revealing a country not just facing challenges, but actively wrestling with them, seeking paths forward in every sphere of national life.