TechPression

Tag: TUC

  • Lights out Nationwide Blackout in Nigeria

    Lights out Nationwide Blackout in Nigeria

    Nigeria is experiencing a nationwide blackout due to the temporary closure of its national power grid caused by workers on strike. In a recent announcement, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) revealed that the grid experienced a complete blackout at 2:19 AM on Monday, June 3, 2024.

    This unfortunate event was a result of the actions taken by the National Union of Electricity Workers (NUEE), operating under the aegis of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

    The strike, which commenced on Monday, June 3, was organised to express dissatisfaction with the government’s inability to finalise and enact a new National Minimum Wage Act and reverse the increase in electricity tariffs to N65/kWh.

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    The workers, who advocate for a higher minimum wage and improved working conditions, have pledged to persist with their ongoing strike until their requests are fulfilled.

    The blackout has a profound impact on Nigeria’s technology industry. Given the current situation with the national grid shutdown, it’s crucial to consider the potential impact on various data centres, internet service providers, and other critical infrastructure.

    These disruptions could significantly impact internet services, communication networks, and other digital services that depend on the grid for power.

    Impact of the Nationwide Blackout on the tech Industry and economy

    The blackout is anticipated to impact the economy significantly. The shutdown of the national grid will significantly impact multiple sectors of the economy, such as manufacturing, healthcare, and transportation.

    Numerous businesses may need help closing their doors or operating with limited capacity, resulting in substantial financial setbacks and the potential for job cuts.

    The blackout is expected to affect businesses in different industries significantly. Countless businesses depend heavily on electricity to keep their operations running smoothly.

    However, if the grid experiences a shutdown, these companies will have no choice but to halt their activities or operate with limited capacity. This could result in substantial financial losses, especially for small and medium-sized businesses that may need more resources to handle the expenses caused by the blackout.

    The blackout will significantly affect the daily lives of people in Nigeria. Given the current situation with the national grid being shut down, it’s unfortunate that numerous households will experience a lack of electricity, resulting in significant disruptions to their daily routines and activities. This may result in higher household expenses, especially for those who depend on generators for their electricity needs.

    Read also: TUC vows to mobilise nationwide protest against Cybersecurity levy

    Efforts to revert the blackout

    The TCN recently announced its efforts to restore the grid. They plan to use the Shiroro substation to power the transmission lines supplying bulk electricity to the Katampe Transmission Substation. 

    Nevertheless, the current situation continues to pose challenges, as the labour union persists in impeding grid recovery efforts across the country.

    In conclusion, the nationwide blackout in Nigeria is a significant crisis with wide-ranging implications for the country’s technology, economy, and business sectors. The recent strike by electricity workers has caused significant disruptions across various sectors of the economy and daily life, as the national grid has been forced to shut down. 

    There are ongoing efforts to restore the grid, but the situation continues to pose challenges. Collaboration between the government and labour unions is crucial in addressing the crisis and reinstating power to the nation. 

  • TUC vows to mobilise nationwide protest against Cybersecurity levy

    TUC vows to mobilise nationwide protest against Cybersecurity levy

    In a significant reaction to the federal government’s cyber security levy, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has described the levy as unreasonable and vowed to protest against it.

    Recall that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in a circular to banks, imposed a 0.5 percent cybersecurity levy on almost all electronic transactions.

    The union in a statement signed by its President, Comrade Festus Osifo on Wednesday in Abuja, lamented that the policies of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration has continued to impose hardship, pain, anguish on an already impoverished masses, even as many buisnesses struggling to thrive under the harsh and anti-people polices were shutting down operations.

    Read also: Nigeria’s Federal Housing Authority launches digitisation drive

    While noting that the extortions from the current administration was vexatious, the labour union noted that it would not stand.

    He said: “It is indeed illogical that this is coming at a time that Nigerians are grappling with high cost of living that is imposed by devaluation of Naira, hyper hike in the cost of Petrol, supersonic increment in the cost of electricity tariff, etc.

    “We are quite disturbed that since the inception of this administration, its policies have brought pain, anguish and sorrow to Nigerians. Whereas a bank account holder in Nigeria today is currently charged stamp duty, transfer fee, VAT on transfer fee, and all forms of account maintenance levies by both government and the banks; this burden seems not to be enough as the government is poised to inflict further pain on the already battered Nigerians.

    “So many policies of this government are not only imposing hardship on the downtrodden Nigerians but also on businesses, as some of them are shutting down because of the unfriendly business environment.

    While accusing the National Assembly of colluding with members of the executives to oppress the masses and choke the little life out of them, the TUC maintained that the conspiracies would be resisted.

    “The National Assembly that ought to be the bastion of democracy and the protector of the citizens oftentimes engages in collusion with elements within the executive to exploit the people. How can such an obnoxious law see the light of day in a truly people-oriented legislative house?

    “This is indeed a conspiracy of the oppressors against the masses and citizens of this country, and it must be resisted by all well-meaning Nigerians.”

    The TUC vowed to mobilise Nigerians nationwide to protest if the directive was not reversed, even as it alleges there was an ongoing conspiracy to drain Nigerians of their hard-earned resources, which amount to nothing due to the hyperinflation on goods and services occasioned by the government’s policies.

    “Financial analysts have done a preliminary estimate using the 2023 online transfer volume in Nigeria that fell within these categories and put the value at over 2 trillion Naira; what kind of cybercrime are we fighting with this humongous amount of money? This ugly development will further encourage people to hoard cash at home, reduce financial inclusion, increase poverty and exacerbate the misery index.

    “The cost of living is at an all-time high; food inflation is biting, all contributing to the miserability of Nigerians. This act is viewed as a deliberate plot to continue to drain Nigerians of their hard-earned money, and we kick against this vehemently.

    Read also: Lawmakers urge CBN to withdraw Cybersecurity levy

    “All Nigerians are interested in right now is the urgent conclusion of discussions around the minimum wage and not a vexatious policy that is further reducing the already depleted disposable income of the masses and indirectly ridiculing the gain which the minimum wage would have brought to the people when concluded.

    “We call on the federal government to give a marching order to the Central Bank of Nigeria to immediately withdraw the circular and cancel the planned levy forthwith; failure of which we will be left with no option than to mobilize all our members, stakeholders and indeed the entire masses to embark on the immediate protest that would culminate into the total shutdown of the Nigerian economy as this is one exploitation too many. Enough is enough; Nigerians must breathe! This extortions must stop.”