Abuja, Nigeria – May 26, 2024
The National Assembly (NASS) has been forced to rely on water vendors, popularly known as Mai Ruwa, after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) cut off water supply to the legislative complex. This development has caused significant inconvenience to lawmakers and staff, who now depend on external water sources for their daily needs.
The NLC’s action is part of a broader industrial action aimed at pressuring the Federal Government to address various demands, including the negotiation of a new minimum wage and reversing a hike in electricity tariffs. The labour union’s move to disrupt water supply to the NASS is seen as an escalation in their efforts to push the government into negotiations.
Impact on Daily Operations
The water supply cut has severely impacted daily operations at the National Assembly. Lawmakers and staff members have been seen purchasing water from Mai Ruwa vendors to meet their basic needs, including drinking water and sanitation purposes.
“This is a challenging situation for us. We are struggling to maintain hygiene and carry out our duties efficiently without a reliable water supply,” said a NASS staff member who wished to remain anonymous.
NLC’s Stand
The NLC, in its statement, emphasized that the disruption of services is a necessary measure to compel the government to address workers’ grievances urgently. The labour union has been vocal about the need for the government to meet their demands to avoid further disruptions to public services.
“Our actions are aimed at drawing attention to the pressing issues facing Nigerian workers. We regret any inconvenience caused, but these measures are necessary to achieve our goals,” said an NLC spokesperson.
Government Response
As of now, there has been no official response from the National Assembly management or the Federal Government regarding the water supply cut. It remains unclear how long the NASS will have to depend on Mai Ruwa vendors or what steps are being taken to resolve the situation.
Broader Context
This disruption at the NASS is part of a larger wave of industrial actions by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which have declared a nationwide strike starting from June 3, 2024. The unions are demanding the conclusion of minimum wage negotiations and a reversal of recent electricity tariff hikes, which they argue have worsened the economic conditions for Nigerian workers.
As the situation develops, the public and government officials alike are waiting to see if the Federal Government will take steps to address the unions’ demands and restore normalcy to the affected services, including water supply to the National Assembly.