Government agencies across Ebonyi, Taraba, Kano, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom States were grounded on Monday due to the indefinite strike embarked on by organized labour.
The unions’ action was over the failure of the Federal Government to increase the N60,000 minimum wage it offered to workers and its refusal to reverse the recent increase in electricity tariff.
The Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress had on May 31 directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike from June 3.
Banks, hospitals, airports, government offices have been shut down
On Monday, the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) locked the secretariat’s entrance in compliance with infinite industrial action embarked on by the labour union.
Mrs Rifkatu Iortyer, President of JUAC told newsmen in Abuja that the committee’s decision to deny workers access to the Secretariat complied with the NLC/ TUC directive.
“My advice to FCTA workers is simple: stay home and be the obedient workers you’ve always been.
“The strike action is for the interest of the Nigerian workers,” she said.
On Monday, in Ebonyi State, Labour Unions joined their colleagues in the nationwide strike as workers at the state Judiciary Complex opposite the old government house met a locked gate when they came to work.
At the Unity Square Secretariat, workers of the federal agencies at the secretariat did not show up for work even though the gate into the complex was open.
They could not gain entrance, and after staying for some time discussing the situation and reading the notices placed by their unions on the gates, they dispersed to their various homes.
At the former Ministry of Finance building behind the Judiciary Complex, union leaders were seen enforcing the strike by locking the gate.
Some banks on Ogoja Road were opened for business as a staff of one of the commercial banks said they did not receive any directive from their headquarters and so had to open for their customers.
“Until we receive directives from our head office, we must open for business. We can’t do otherwise to avoid disciplinary actions,” he said.
In Kano on Monday banks, civil servants and aviation staff stayed away from work.
However, private schools were in session as their worker defied the strike instruction by the organized labour led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
At the Federal Secretariat, Kano, and Audi Baki Kano State Secretariat complex civil servants were not on duty.
At Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, there were no flights except those departing for the Holy Land for pilgrimage.
And from Taraba State, government agencies were grounded on Monday, and the premises of various banks spread across the state were sealed by labour leaders bent on enforcing the strike.
The state chairman of the Trade Congress, TUC, Sule Albasu, said both the TUC and the members of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, in Taraba, have collectively agreed to enforce the strike in all parts of the state.
“We have also directed our members across the sixteen local government councils of the state, including the two Special Development Areas, to make sure that public offices are not opened,” he said.
The NLC chairman, Peter Jediel, who moved around public offices with his TUC counterpart, said the ongoing action has become necessary following the present economic hardship.
He urged President Bola Tinubu and the members of the National Assembly, to, as a matter of urgency, address the plights of workers and Nigerians at large.
In Adamawa state, the situation is the same, public schools, government agencies, and Banks were shut down in compliance with the directive.
However, academic activities were conducted as normal in some private schools across the state.
Policemen were drafted to strategic offices to protect government assets from vandalization by hoodlums who might take advantage of the strike to loot properties.
Similarly, Government offices at different locations including Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat, the Federal Secretariat all along Abak Road and Dakkada Secretariat, Udo Udoma Avenue in the Uyo metropolis, Akwa Ibom State have been shut down.
At the state secretariat, labour leaders were seen playing drums and dancing with a stationed quick response vehicle and security operatives on standby.
The Chairperson of the union in the state, Sunny James, said workers in the state will ensure total enforcement until the Federal Government meets the demands of workers on the new minimum wage.
“NLC Akwa Ibom Chapter will ensure total compliance with the National directives. We will move around all offices in the state to enforce the directive.” he said.
Public institutions, banks and other government facilities operating outside the secretariat have been shut in compliance with the nationwide strike by the NLC and affiliate unions.
However, markets and all other commercial activities in the state were open but traders complained of low patronage due to the strike as Akwa Ibom is known to be a civil service state.
State Chairman of TUC, Mr Dominic Abang said the labour unions in the state have joined the strike and it is total.
However, schools and students currently writing the West African School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, at different examination centres across the state from the strike exempted from participating in the strike by the leadership of the NLC in the state.
Alpha Marshall, State Secretary for Organized Labour, Akwa Ibom State, in a press release said the union said school Principals and exam supervisors involved in the exams would not be affected by the strike.
“The nationwide indefinite strike by NLC and TUC will NOT affect those students who are currently writing WASSCE at different Examination Centres across the State.
“In view of the aforementioned reason, the examination will go on as scheduled, therefore, school Principals, exam supervisors, parents/guardians and the general public should please take note,” he stated.
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