POWER SUPPLY, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, AIRPORTS AFFECTED AS NATIONWIDE STRIKE HITS NIGERIA
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As the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) launch their industrial action in protest of the increase in energy rates and the lack of agreement on a new minimum wage, striking employees have stopped working across the country.
Although the National Assembly intervened at the last minute to prevent the industrial action that was announced on Friday, the talks came to a deadlock, which allowed the strike to start.
Some employees across the nation were barred from their offices in accordance with the directive.
The acts of the workers grounded economic activity from River State in the south-south area to Kaduna in the north-west of Nigeria.
Vehicle entry to the Port Harcourt Airport was restricted as early as 7:00 a.m. by employees working under the auspices of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP).
Passengers were compelled by this to descend and enter the airport on foot. However, there is a strong security presence and no disruption to flights.
Emmanuel Akagha, the chairman of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals’ Rivers State chapter, claims that despite the airport’s road connecting certain settlements, passengers are still permitted entry. But he said that neither boarding nor checking in are permitted.
It was a similar situation in Lagos State as passengers were grounded owing to the strike.
At the Murtala Mohammed Airport II, quite several passengers are stranded with luggage in hand. As the aviation unions locked the gate, so staff and passengers had no access to the terminal as the nationwide protest began.
At the Abuja Airport, a few passengers are seen at one of the entrances into the terminal as doors are locked. Inside the airport terminal is empty. No staff are in sight and airline stands are empty.
In Kaduna, students of the Kaduna Polytechnic have been locked out of their campus by labour officials in compliance with the nationwide indefinite strike. As early as 7 am, union officials stormed the Unguwan Rimi Campus of the school. They drove the students out of the institution and locked the gate.
Some of the students who spoke to Channels Television condemned the incident, asking labour to return to the negotiation table. They are worried that their academic calendar will be affected if the strike continues.
Labour leaders in the state also sealed the main gate of the National Ear Care Centre. They chased out the workers and also prevented out patients from getting into the hospital.
At the State Secretariat in the Kaduna State capital where about seven ministries are located, workers were locked outside of the gate by the labour union leaders. The main gate leading to the secretariat is under lock, with no going in or coming out.
Activities in banks and other financial institutions were also disrupted as the staff were not allowed to get into their offices by the labour union officials.
The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has also shut down operations at the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO).
The Kaduna State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Abdullahi Danfulani said all affiliate unions are complying totally with the strike and won’t back down until the Federal Government does the needful.
The situation is not different in Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre Lagos as government offices have been shut.
In Alausa, where most state government offices are located, workers were locked out, and business activities were grounded.
Channels Television observed that the roads were unusually less busy for a Monday morning in Lagos.
The Lagos State Chairman of the NLC says the union is out to ensure compliance with the directive issued by its directive issued by executives.
Neighbouring Ogun State is also experiencing a crippling of economic activities. The Federal Secretariat in Abeokuta, the state capital, is under lock and key. Workers stayed away from office in compliance with directives of the national leaderships of NLC and TUC.
The NLC Secretariat in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was also deserted. Students who turned up at school were sent back by their teachers in compliance with labour’s directive.
Workers in Cross River also joined the strike. Public schools did not also operate as the teachers and other states complied with the strike.
The NLC chairman in the state stressed that the Federal Government has refused to be realistic in its actions especially as it concerns the workers. Both fuel stations, schools, and banks across the metropolis complied with the exercise.
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