By Babs Oyetoro with agency report
Organised Labour embarked on industrial action across the nation yesterday paralyzing economic activities in banks, National Assembly Complex and government agencies while some chapters of the NLC did not comply with the directives.
•National Assembly gate shut
National Assembly shut by angry workers.
Workers yesterday shut down the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
Access to the complex is restricted, leaving individuals stranded and cars in the lurch.
“We are on strike and won’t allow you in even if you’re a journalist,” a sergeant-at-arms told reporters.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had declared an indefinite strike starting yesterday after Joe Ajaero, NLC president, was reportedly brutalised in Imo on November 1.
•Taraba workers shun strike
It was reported that workers in Taraba workers went about their normal schedules yesterday in defiance of an indefinite nationwide strike called by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that government offices in Jalingo were fully operational as civil servants reported for duty.
Mr Tanimu Musa, a civil servant told NAN that the strike was counterproductive.
Musa noted that the Federal and state governments had demonstrated their commitment to ameliorate hardships faced by workers and by the Nigerian masses.
He said the Federal Government, for instance, provided palliatives and increased wages, while Taraba had also been paying the N30,000 minimum wage.
Another civil servant, Mr Joel Yakubu, said, however that an NLC team was going around to enforce the strike order.
“State workers are yet to receive their October salary which the governor ordered must be paid on the basis of the N30,000 minimum wage.
“The order delayed the October salary as fresh vouchers needed to be raised to reflect the wage increase.
“It is arguable that shunning the strike is a decoy by Taraba workers so they would not extend the payday unnecessarily.
The NLC and TUC called the strike to protest against the manhandling of the National President of the NLC Mr Joe Ajaero, by hoodlums in Owerri on Nov. 1.
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While declaring the strike, Ajaero said the industrial action was in protest against “the persistent and egregious violations of the rights and privileges of workers in Imo by the state government.
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria on Friday restrained the labour unions from embarking on strike.
President of the court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, ordered the nation’s two major labour unions to stop the industrial action scheduled to begin on Nov. 14.
The interim order followed an ex-parte request by the Nigerian government through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
Sokoto workers disregard union’s directives
Workers in Sokoto State defied the directives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), proceeding with their official duties in spite of the nationwide indefinite strike call.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that routine operations were conducted at the federal and state Ministries, banks, and schools.
Malam Ismail Dayyabu, a classroom teacher, said that they were not served notice of the strike and were only aware of a Court order restraining the union from striking.
Similarly Alhaji Bala Dankasuwa, a trader, said he was ignorant of any strike action, emphasising that their leaders had not communicated such a decision.
Meanwhile, the NLC and TUC, Sokoto State chapters have assured their commitment to enforcing total compliance with the nationwide strike in the state.
Mr Hamisu Hussain, the state NLC Secretary, acknowledged the delayed communication of the strike information to workers in the state.
He explained, “Due to the delayed notice, many workers in banks and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) could not join the strike today.
Mr Bello Garba, the state TUC Secretary, condemned the alleged assault on the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, during the union’s rally in Imo.
Garba warned that such incidents could recur nationwide, if not properly addressed, while assuring the strike will be enforced on all workers in the state. (NAN)
Labour strike: Workers in Kaduna observe partial compliance
Workers in Kaduna State observed partial compliance to the directive by the organised labour to its members to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike yesterday.
A News Agency of Nigeria Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the situation correspondent observed that some workers were seen doing their normal routine jobs in their various offices at the Maccido Dalhat Secretariat popularly known as State Secretariat.
Also, Primary and Secondary Schools as well as tertiary institutions like the Kaduna Polytechnic were opened for bunisses and lectures were ongoing.
A civil servant with the Ministry of Health who pleaded anonymity said that state’s workers demands were mostly not met after any industrial action hence the non-complaint.
” It’s like we are only showing solidarity to the Federal Government workers and after their demands are met, we will be asked to settle with our state government.
“At the end, we just suffer strike without achieving anything”,he said.
Similarly, Malam Abdullahi Isah a retiree-cum-businessman, said the harsh economic situation contributed to the lack of compliance.
According to him, people are yet to see the benefits of embarking on nationwide strikes, adding, “that is why you see people going about their normal businesses to earn their daily bread.”
Meanwhile, Kaduna Electric has closed its offices in compliance to the strike offering only essential services.
The strike was called to press home their demands, especially the reported “non comment by the Federal Government over the alleged brutalisation of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero by security agents and hoodlums in Imo.” (NAN
•Organised labour in Nasarawa directs total compliance, today
Organised labour in Nasarawa State has directed its affiliates to ensure total compliance with the nationwide strike action from today.
The national headquarters of the organised labour had directed all state councils to commence an indefinite strike over the brutalisation of Mr Joe Ajaero, National President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Imo recently.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that leaders of NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) gave the directive for all affiliates to withdraw their services during an emergency meeting yesterday in Lafia.
Comrade Ayuba Okor, Chairman of NLC and his TUC counterpart, Mohammed Doma, said that the decision was in compliance with the directive from their national headquarters.
They also said that monitoring and enforcement teams were already activated and would go round offices by Wednesday to ensure total shutdown.
Chairmen of some of the affiliate unions, Salihu Alkali of Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) and Salihu Adamu of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), pledged their commitment to comply with the directive of the National Headquarters of the union.
NAN correspondent who visited Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state observed that there was partial compliance with the strike as workers offered skeletal services.
Some of the workers who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that their leaders in the state were yet to direct them to comply. (NAN)
•Public school students sent home in Ondo
Pupils and students of public schools in Akure, the Ondo State capital, were yesterday sent home following the directive by the Organised Labour that workers should embark on indefinite strike.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that scores of public schools pupils and students were seen leaving their school premises for their various homes.
NAN reports that filling stations, however, were open for business in the metropolis.
Although, most offices in the state secretariat, Alagbaka, were opened, workers were not attending to visitors and government business.
While some banks were also opened for business and some have their gates locked.
Speaking with NAN, Mr Wasiu Adeyemi, a bank customer, expressed disappointment in the selective attendance by the banks.
He said that the banks only allowed those that came for deposit, while those with complaints were not allowed entry.
Mr Clement Fatuase, Chairman, Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Ondo State, who spoke with NAN, expressed optimism about the ongoing industrial action.
Fatuase, who explained that strike, being the commencement, was still complied with in the state, said that other affiliate unions and workers would join the strike as it progress.
“At least today is day one. The compliance is okay. The strike is at least, averagely effective.
“Anyway, we are issuing a press release as regards the strike,” he said. (NAN)
Labour strike: Workers in Kaduna observe partial compliance
Workers in Kaduna State observed partial compliance to the directive by the organised labour to its members to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike on Tuesday.
A News Agency of Nigeria Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the situation correspondent observed that some workers were seen doing their normal routine jobs in their various offices at the Maccido Dalhat Secretariat popularly known as State Secretariat.
Also, Primary and See Schools as well as tertiary institutions like the Kaduna Polytechnic were opened for bunisses and lectures were ongoing.
A civil servant with the Ministry of Health who pleaded anonymity said that state’s workers demands were mostly not met after any industrial action hence the non complaince.
” It’s like we are only showing solidarity to the Federal Givernment workers and after their demands are met, we will be asked to settle with our state government.
“At the end, we just suffer strike without achieving anything”,he said.
Similarly, Malam Abdullahi Isah a retiree-cum-businessman, said the harsh economic situation contributed to the lack of compliance.
According to him, people are yet to see the benefits of embarking on nationwide strikes, adding, “that is why you see people going about their normal businesses to earn their daily bread.”
Meanwhile, Kaduna Electric has closed its offices in compliance to the strike offering only essential services.
NAN reports that the Trade Union Congress(TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had on Monday directed all it’s affiliates to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.
The strike was called to press home their demands, especially the reported “non comment by the Federal Government over the alleged brutalissation of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero by security agents and hoodlums in Imo.” (NAN)
Ekiti workers comply with directive, ground offices, schools
Ekiti, yesterday, witnessed a near total compliance with labour’s nationwide strike order, as many government offices, schools and institutions were deserted, while few workers reported for duty.
The development followed a directive by the State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to its members to join the nationwide indefinite strike till further notice, in line with orders from both national leadership of labour unions.
Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the strike, report that pupils and students of some public, primary and secondary schools who had earlier resumed for the day’s work, had to return home, on realising that their teachers were not available.
The directive by the state chapter of the NLC is contained in a statement, jointly signed by the State Chairman and Secretary, Mr Kolapo Olatunde and Foluso Israel.
Labour said the directive was consequent upon the alleged assault on the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, among other reasons.
It further explained that the decision emanated from the joint National Executive Council of NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The statement reads, “This is sequel to the recent developments in Imo State that led to the brutalization and abduction of the National President of the Congress – Comrade Joe Ajaero, along with other Comrades with him in Imo State to protest the injustice meted out to workers and retirees. (NAN)
