GOVERNMENT offices, banks and public schools were closed yesterday in many states as the organised labour began its strike over delay by Federal Government to conclude negotiation on a new minimum wage.
As reported by The Nation‘s reporters, cases of full compliance were recorded in some states as others witnessed partial obedience to the labour leaders’ directive.
The organised labour, had on Wednesday, directed its affiliates to begin an indefinite warning strike yesterday to press home its demand for a new national minimum wage.
Three labour groups – Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC) – issued the directive after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum given to the government to announce and implement the new national minimum wage as promised.
Labour demanded N65,000 national minimum up from the present N18,000.
Govt offices, some banks, courts, schools crippled in Lagos
The enforcement teams of the organised labour yesterday set out from Ikeja to the State Secretariat, Alausa, at about 7:20 a.m. and workers, who arrived for work, were turned back.
The organised labour led by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Vice President Comrade Amechi Asugwuni shut Lagos airport and banks branches to press home their demands for the implementation of a new National Minimum Wage.
Labour leaders and their members also stopped operations at branches of Access Bank, Stanbic IBTC, and Guaranty Trust Bank. Workers of the banks were sent out of the premises.
The labour leaders also drove workers at the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) out of the parastatal’s premises.
In an interview, Asugwuni said he was satisfied with the level of workers’ compliance with the strike.
When asked why owners and drivers of commercial buses failed to comply with the action, he said they had been directed to stop operation.
According to him, “We are going round to enforce the strike and we will do everything legitimate to ensure that it stands. Nothing can be more unique than this.”
Asugwuni explained that they were still waiting for the Federal Government to call them for a meeting.
Also speaking with reporters, the Lagos State NLC Chairman, Comrade Idowu Adelakun, said the strike is long overdue, adding that “everybody is prepared for the strike”.
He added that labour leaders would keep registering their presence in the premises for the seven days duration of the warning strike to ensure compliance and no destruction of property.
Association of Senior Staff of Banks Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) President Comrade Oyinkan Olasanoye and his team also joined other labour leaders to ensure that banks comply with the strike action.
Some banks on Lagos-Ibadan express way and Lagos metropolis were closed.
The ASSBIFI enforcement team also prevented workers from gaining access to Stanbic IBTC Bank, Ikeja branch.
The team stormed Polaris Bank (former Skye Bank) on Awolowo Way, Ikeja and thereafter locked its gate. Workers and customers were prevented from accessing the premises.
However, Access Bank in Dopemu and First Bank in Iyana-Ipaja opened for business with many customers carrying out various transactions.
Fuel stations were seen attending to customers. Major roads, including Iyana-Ipaja to Ikeja and Ikorodu Road, were busy with the usual heavy traffic.
Public school pupils stayed at home because their teachers complied with the strike by the NLC.
Though some of the pupils said they had been informed of the impending strike by their teachers on Wednesday, many still went to school. They were sent back home.
At the Agege Local Government Area secretariat, the gate was locked with padlock and workers wearing Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE)-branded T-shirts sat outside chatting. One of them who did not want to be named told The Nation that the gate would be opened by 4pm. He said he was not sure when the strike would be called off.
The court rooms of the Lagos State Judiciary were shut to adjudication of cases as workers stayed away to observe the nationwide strike.
As a result, lawyers and litigants who came to the courts were turned back at the gate by security guards keeping watch over the court premises.
The premises of the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja was like a graveyard yesterday.
The doors of the court rooms were shut by workers to prevent proceedings from taking place.
Chief Registrar Mrs. Taiwo Olatokun, who arrived at Ikeja High Court could not gain access to her office as the main door of the administrative building was locked.
None of the officials of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) were on ground to answer media enquiries yesterday.
Federal, State Secretariats, banks shut in Oyo
The strike witnessed full compliance in different parts of Oyo State as workers shut down offices yesterday.
Public primary and secondary school classrooms were locked across the state.
Besides, most banks visited in the city yesterday did not open for business.
Workers deserted both the Federal and State Secretariats in Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday in compliance with the seven-day warning strike.
Some commercial banks in Ibadan metropolis also shut down their activities. The federal and state secretariats in Ibadan were deserted as workers obeyed the sit-at-home order.
Entry gates of the secretariats were locked.
A security operative in one of the banks said customers could only use the ATMs, saying that activities in the banking hall had been shut down in compliance with the warning strike.
However, some commercial banks and filling stations across the metropolis went on with their normal duties.
In some of the secondary schools in Ibadan metropolis, students were turned back home by principal officers who politely asked to return due to the current strike action.
At the University of Ibadan, academic activities and administrative duties were disrupted as the Non-teaching staff joined the strike.
Similarly, the leadership of the UI chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) directed members to comply with the strike.
Students and lecturers, who had lectures as at 8am, were shocked to meet the lecture venues locked.
Administrative offices were not spared as most members who had come to work were directed to return home after attending the union’s congress held at the Theatre Arts to intimate members on compliance.
Workers stay at home in Ekiti
Government offices were locked in Ekiti State as workers complied with the Labour directive to stay away from work on the first day of the nationwide warning strike.
The officials of the state councils of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) moved round to ensure compliance with the strike.
The Governor’s Office, House of Assembly, High Court complex, the State Secretariat housing Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) remained desolate.
Private business organisations like shops, hotels, petrol stations, eateries and banks opened for business.
Some of the banks that opened earlier in the day closed again at about 1.00pm when labour leaders were moving around to ensure compliance.
Commercial motorcycle operators, taxi and bus drivers defied the strike order and continued their activities unabated.
State TUC chairman, Mr. Odunayo Adesoye, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance. He expressed optimism that workers in the informal sector would comply in subsequent days.
Adesoye, who justified the strike, argued that the present minimum wage was no longer sustainable.
Business activities affected in Ogun
The warning strike was effective in some parts of Ogun State.
Business activities were paralysed in Sango-Ota. Some of the other places visited included Ado-Odo/Local Government headquarters, the courts, post office, Ansarudeen Secondary School and Primary Schools.
Some lawyers who came to the Magistrates’ Court and High Court in Sango-Ota to transact business could not gain access to the courts. School teachers in schools visited were at the gates sending wards home.
Some workers, who wished not to be identified, hailed the NLC and the organised labour for the strike aimed at ensuring that workers received decent pay.
Civil servants join in Adamawa
In Adamawa, government workers joined the strike.
The state Government Secretariat in Yola as well as Yola North and Yola South local governments’ secretariats were shut.
The courts were also closed while some banks rendered skeletal services.
But at Federal Medical Centre, Yola, the doctors and nurses attended to patients.
The Police Command in Adamawa, however, advised the public to remain calm and go about their normal businesses.
The command in a statement by its spokesman, SP Othman Abubakar, said it had put adequate security measures to ensure that no one was harassed because of the strike.
Govt offices shut in Imo
Government offices in Imo State, including public schools, higher institutions and other public offices, were closed down yesterday following the nationwide strike.
The state secretariat, which houses the ministries located on Port Harcourt road, was deserted by workers.
Banks were also forced to shut down by NLC taskforce that monitored compliance.
Among other government and private institutions that obeyed the NLC order was the Imo State House of Assembly, which was locked.
The state NLC Chairman, Comrade Austin Chilakpu, who spoke with reporters, said the strike was complied with.
According to him, “The strike is being observed to the fullest in Imo State. As you can see, the state secretariat is locked. The workers stayed away from work. This is a national directive and we are complying with it.”
Also, the State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Paul Akalazu, said both the government institutions and banks complied with the order.