NLC strike grounds Kaduna as El-Rufai remains adamant

checkup only to be told that hospital staff were on strike.

The situation was the same at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital where patients were seen leaving the hospital premises because there were no doctors to attend to them. “We are leaving because the staff and doctors are not here to attend to us,” a patient caregiver was heard lamenting.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Kaduna State NMA Chairman, Dr. Aliyu Sokomba confirmed that the NMA was in support of the strike action even though it is yet to officially declare. “We have a health workers union that has appealed to us to support them and though we are yet to declare full compliance, we are giving it all the necessary support to ensure it succeeds,” he said.

Some public and private schools in Kaduna have also remained shut. Some private schools had informed parents and guardians to remain home with their wards for safety as they observed the direction of the strike action.

Our correspondent who visited LEA Kagoro Tudun Wada, LEA Chawai Road, LEA Unguwar Sunusi, Government Girls Secondary School, Maimuna Gwarzo as well as LEA Nuhu Bamalli, LEA Saint Augustine, among others, reports that the schools were shut with no pupils or teachers. A parent, Salisu Suleiman whose children were at home lamented that the strike had affected the educational pursuit of his children adding that, “In as much as we are not in support of the state government’s policies, we are equally not happy with the strike because the whole thing still affects the poor man,” he said. He urged the government and labour to sheath their swords and move to the negotiating table for the betterment of all.

Residents and owners of small businesses in Kaduna State are groaning over the shutdown of electricity following the commencement of the strike action directed by the NLC. Residents tell Daily Trust correspondents that they were forced to dispose of perishable items because they could no longer refrigerate them while many communities say they have resorted to buying water from water vendors who have increased the price of water cans from N360 to N600.

Business owners especially those who sell perishable commodities like yoghurts and seafoods say they may record losses if the strike action persist as they may not be able to sustain the use of generators.

Obi Danladi, who sells yoghurt at Kawo Motor Park, said the lack of electricity is detrimental to their business. “We use ice blocks to make our yoghurt cool as nobody will buy it if it is not cold and it may equally spoil. However, between yesterday and today, I have lost half of my expected profit because those who produce the ice blocks are having electricity challenge.”

At Unguwan Kanawa, our correspondent learnt from Abdulrahman Abdulmalik who sells iced fish and other seafoods that since electricity was cut in the early hours of Sunday, there have been low sales as residents fear any bulk purchase could be a waste of money.

“The demand is very low as people buy only for their immediate needs because there is no electricity. That leaves us in a dilemma because we also do not have electricity and rely on ice blocks but the ice bloc companies are also complaining of shortage at the moment,” he said.

At the Bakin Dogo market in Kaduna where vegetables are sold, Daily Trust gathered that there is a glut of tomatoes even as traders say they have asked farmers to suspend any supply until the end of the strike action.

Abdulmumini Rabiu, a tomato seller, said “People are not coming to the buy, we have crashed the price but yet people are not buying and we don’t know what to do with the tomatoes.”

“Two days ago, a basket of tomato sold between N18,000 and N20,000 but today it is between N10,000 and N6,000.”

The acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has ordered police officers not to allow new threats to lives and property to thrive in Kaduna State following the protest and ongoing strike embarked upon by labour unions.

Baba, who gave the order in a statement made available to newsmen, yesterday, said the deployment of additional police operatives and crime prevention assets became important to ensure public safety and strengthen security along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.

The statement signed by Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, noted that Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the zonal and state commands should ensure safety within their Areas of Responsibility (AoR).

“Consequently, the IGP has directed the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police in Zonal and State Commands with jurisdictions straddling Kaduna – Abuja Highway and its environs to ensure no new threat to lives and property thrive within their Area of Responsibility (AoR) as a result of the industrial action,” the statement read. It added, “Similarly, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Intelligence Bureau has been directed to immediately deploy covert operatives from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and the Special Tactical Squad (STS) to prevent any untoward situation along the expressway.”

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to exercise calm and restraint in its engagement with the Kaduna State Government.

Chairman of the NGF and Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi in a statement last night said; “The calls for cautious introspection on the part of Labour as no meaningful progress of any kind has ever been achieved in an atmosphere of conflict and chaos.

“The NGF also wishes to remind the NLC that its actions could become counter-productive especially as the last year 2020, had adversely affected workers socially and economically.

“Therefore the NGF advises the NLC to explore the already open avenue of rapprochement that the Kaduna state government has provided to resolve the matter and join the state to evolve a convivial working environment that is befitting for all.”