NLC STRIKE RECORDS MIXED COMPLIANCE NATIONWIDE

the NLC in Benue State recorded huge success in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. Banks and government offices complied with the NLC’s directives, while other institutions partially complied too

Speaking to newsmen on the decision of the NLC to call out workers, the Benue State Chairman of the NLC, Terungwa Igbe, who led a team to monitor the exercise maintained that the timing of the removal of petrol subsidy by the federal government was completely wrong.

The NLC Chairman said: “The fuel subsidy removal is something that has affected all of us. Before now if you have N20,000 it was something, but now it is worthless.

“If you buy N10,000 fuel it will hardly take you for three days. The hardship in the country is too much, and the government is looking the other way.

“That is why we have asked the industrial unions to tell their members to stay at home.”

On the failure of the TUC to join the action, Igbe said “TUC non participation in the warning strike will not affect us.”

Socio-economic Activities Grounded in A'Ibom

Economic and social activities in Akwa Ibom State came to a standstill yesterday as the NLC commenced a two-day warming strike.

The Idongesit Nkanga State Secretariat Complex, the Dakkada Secretariat Annex and the Federal Secretariat Complex all in Uyo, the state capital and other government offices were locked.

However, skeletal services were carried out by key offices in Government House while commercial banks were closed except for their ATM outlets.

The State Chairman of NLC, Sunny James, said the industrial action in the state was, “successful" adding that the body has mobilised all the units to observe the strike.

The chairman called on all NLC members to ensure strict compliance with the directive of the national body and the public to cooperate with NLC to finding lasing solutions to the economic hardship facing Nigerians based on the fuel subsidy removal.

Partial Compliance in Kaduna

There was partial compliance with the NLC warning strike in Kaduna yesterday. State and federal government offices in the state were deserted as workers stayed away from work.

Commercial banks along Yakubu Gowon Way, within the metropolis were closed.

Public schools were also closed. However, private however opened for normal activities.

Kaduna State Chairman of the NLC, Ayuba Magaji, said the warning strike was a warning signal to the government that things were not well with Nigerian workers.

"Nigerian workers and the masses are suffering. That economic conditions are harsh. Many people are living in hunger and abject poverty. They cannot meet their basic needs.

“The standard of living is very high and our income cannot take care of the demands of our families", the NLC chairman said in an interview.

He said the warning strike, "is to tell the government that we are not happy. Our salaries can no longer take us to the next bust stop, talkless of taking us home and we need an urgent solution.”

He called for urgent solution to the problems facing Nigerians, stressing the palliatives being distributed were welcome but not a permanent solution.

In Kwara, Workers Shun NLC’s Directive

Workers in the Kwara State public service yesterday shunned the strike action directed by the leadership of the NLC. Also yesterday, some commercial banks opened their gates to customers in Ilorin earlier, but later shut their gates and drove back customers in compliance with the NLC’s directive. Commercial vehicles including taxi cabs, tricycles and motorcycles were plying the roads on Tuesday without being part of the strike.

However, a visit by THISDAY to state secretariat located along Ahmadu Bello Way showed that, the workers were at their various duty posts.

State Chairman of NLC, Saheed Olayinka, was not on hand to comment on the strike as he did not pick all the calls put across to him.

Chairman of of National Union of Agriculture and Allied Employees, David Ehindero, described the strike as a success.

In Bayelsa, Low Compliance Recorded

Members of the Bayelsa State Council of the NLC yesterday, joined their colleagues across the country to observe the warning strike called by their national body. The Chairman, NLC, Bayelsa State, Simon Barnabas, confirmed that its members complied with the directive of the national body.

Barnabas said: "We joined the warning strike. I am monitoring it with my team to ensure total compliance. It is a warning strike. We embarked the strike ahead of a total action at the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum we have given the federal government.

"We are on the two-day warning strike to agitate for the federal government to ensure that the nation's refineries are made to work and to press for other conditions of services that will help to ameliorate our sufferings of the people including workers occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy and other very urgent needs."

However, warning strike was greeted with apathy as it recorded low compliance as scores of civil servants turned up for work claiming ignorant of an industrial action.

In some government establishments, some workers who were not sure of a strike action were notice in groups discussing the matter, while others said they were waiting for a directive from their bosses.

It was noticed that though most banks did not officially open for services, they offered skeletal services through the back doors.

Some security guards were seen opening the back doors for customers to go and transact their businesses in the banking halls.

It was also observed that schools were in full session just as government offices experienced beehive of normal activities.

Unlike the previous strikes, many residents and indigenes of the state capital, Yenagoa, appeared not to know if there was any strike.

Government Activities Paralysed in Osun

In Osun State, activities in various government agencies were grounded.

THISDAY observed that the entrance gate of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, (TCN) was shut and workers were denied access into the premises.

Similarly, secretariat of local government areas in the state were deserted as few workers seen were only hanging around the premises in numbers.

Addressing Journalists at the TCN entrance, Vice President, West, National Union of Electricity Employee, Sodiq Adewale, said the union complied totally with the strike directive.

"We are part of the strike and we are critical stakeholders as far as NLC is concerned. Presently, in compliance with the NLC directive, we are mandated to embark on a warning strike which started today and will continue tomorrow.

“As you can see, the whole place is under lock. Nobody is coming in and as time goes on, we are going to be reviewing our activities at the level of our actions. So far from our end, we have a total compliance," he added.

However, some workers were seen at the State Government Secretariat, Osogbo in various offices, but the NLC Caretaker Chairman, Modupe Oyedele said those workers were members of the TUC.

In Niger, Union Cut Off Electricity Supply, Secretariat Gates Closed

Electricity Supply to most homes and businesses in Niger State was disrupted as a result of the NLC warning strike.

Also, gates to the State Secretariat complex and other government offices in Minns were shut making it impossible for workers to go in. Some top civil servants who arrived the Secretariat early were chased out of the complex by the NLC monitoring team who later locked the gates.

However, commercial banks in Minna opened for business just like the markets and departmental stores. Only very few vehicles were on the roads though petrol stations were all opened to customers.

The State Chairman of the NLC, Mr. Idris Lafene, told THISDAY that, "We are satisfied with the level of compliance, so far so good."

Lafene said the Congress would report the five banks that refused to comply with the directive to the national leadership of the Congress.

In Anambra, Streets, Govt Offices Deserted

Streets in Awka, the capital city of Anambra State and other major cities in the state were yesterday deserted over the two days warning strike declared by the NLC. Also, many government offices were devoid of workers, as places like the state and federal secretariat looked scanty.

The NLC leaders, led by the State Chairman, Humphrey Emeka Nwafor, led a team of members to on enforcement, while visiting some Ministries and agencies.

Addressing journalists shortly after the exercise at Teacher's House Awka, yesterday, the NLC State Chairman said they were joining their counterparts across the country to compel the federal government to address the plight of workers and the citizenry at large.

“As workers, we are badly affected by the economic crisis visited on Nigerians as a result of the hike in the pump price of petrol, all in the name of subsidy removal.

“We had earlier written to the federal government to adjust our wages automatically in line with the existing economic realities but that has fallen on deaf hears,” he added.