Workers in many states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, joined the nationwide strike declared by the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The two labour centres declared the strike following the brutalisation of the NLC president, Mr Joe Ajaero, in Owerri, Imo State on November 1.
The labour leader was attacked during an NLC protest against the Imo State government over alleged maltreatment of workers in the state.
The unions yesterday directed their members to down tools across the country as from Tuesday (today).
In Lagos, NAN said affiliates to the NLC and TUC complied with the indefinite nationwide strike.
The secretary general, Nigeria Union of Railway Workers (NURW), Mr Segun Esan, said the union was involved in the strike and no train was running as a result.
In effect, therefore, all the workers of Nigerian Railway are duty-bound to join the nationwide strike action from zero-zero hour of Tuesday, 14th November, 2023 by staying back at home and away from their offices.
“All the offices, stations, workshops, and entire premises of the corporation remain locked and inaccessible from zero-zero hour of Tuesday, 14th November, 2023, till otherwise directed by the Congress,” Esan said.
Also, the president, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), Mr Oluwole Olusoji, said advice had been sent out to members on compliance.
He said members had been advised to ensure the safeguard of life and property from people who might be used to take undue advantage of the situation.
“We will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds,” Olusoji said.
In Osun State, public schools were shut while the police strengthened security to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
According to reports, academic activities in schools like Fakunle High School, Osogbo, Saint James Grammar School and Adenle Grammar School located in Ayetoro of Osogbo were all grounded as students who had reported early were sent home.
Few teachers were seen idling away in the various schools in Oshogbo metropolis.
According to some of the teachers who craved anonymity, they had resumed work early but were told to suspend teaching because of the strike.
Meanwhile, the acting chairperson of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is quoted to have said: “Workers in Osun complied fully. Osun is in full compliance with the strike directive.”
The Kano State chapter of the NLC also joined the strike, thus resulting in the closure of primary and secondary schools, as well as tertiary institutions.
It was observed that primary and day secondary school pupils who went to school as early as 7.30 am were made to return home as they did not meet teachers in the schools.
It was gathered that the strike has also affected operations in banks, hospitals, and other public places in the state.
Similarly, the Audu Bako State Secretariat, which houses most of the ministries, was also closed following the commencement of the strike, even though some workers who were not aware of the strike reported to work in the morning but had to return home later.
At the Bayero University, Kano the first semester examination was affected as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had directed its members to join the nationwide strike.
The ASUU president, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, directed compliance in a letter to ASUU zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons across the country.
The state ministry of education also announced the suspension of the 2023 Secondary Schools Qualifying Examination scheduled to take place today (Tuesday) until further notice.
The ministry said in a statement that the action was taken following the nationwide industrial action by the NLC and TUC.
It urged the students and parents or guardians to bear with any inconvenience that may be caused by the suspension.
Civil servants and bank workers in Kogi State also complied with the directive by the two labour centres, ordering all workers to embark on strike from midnight on Tuesday.
The state secretariat on Zone 8 Road was like a ghost town as no worker showed up for work.
Some banks in the Lokoja metropolis were not opened for business but the ATMs were still working.
Meanwhile, the state chairman of the NLC, Mr Gabriel Amari, said from Wednesday (tomorrow) all banks would be shut adding that as for the hospitals “we are expecting all patients to be discharged latest tonight and the hospitals will fully comply by Wednesday,” Amari said.
In Niger State, workers in most public institutions withdrew their services.
The gates to the state secretariat complex, house of assembly complex, the High Court and Sharia Court complexes, as well as the federal secretariat were all locked.
Similarly, pupils and students of public schools were asked to return home after they met the gates and doors to their schools firmly locked.
The gates to the Minna General Hospital were also locked, thereby making patients to seek medical care at private health institutions.
In Ogun State, Vanguard reports that there was a partial compliance with the nationwide industrial action.
According to the paper, banks and other private establishments opened for business but government establishments including health centres were shut.
Schools like St Anne’s Primary School, Oke-Ilewo, Ilugun Grammar School and Baptist Boys High School, all in Abeokuta were shut.
Similarly, activities at the Ogun State Hospital, Primary Healthcare Centre, Oke-Ilewo in Abeokuta South local government area were grounded.
Meanwhile, total blackout is imminent as the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) yesterday directed its members to commence full mobilisation to ensure compliance with the NLC and TUC directive.
The NUEE in a notice signed by its acting general secretary, Mr Dominic Igwebike, urged its members to comply with the directive and stop work from the early hours of today should the government refused to address the issues raised from the shortfall of the atrocious event in Imo State.”
“With reference to the NLC NEC meeting of today (yesterday) 13th November 2023 and the joint communiqué from NLC and TUC dated 7 November 2023 on nationwide withdrawal of service on 14th November 2023 if the government refused to address the issues raised from the shortfall of the atrocious event in Imo State on the 1st of November 2023, we affirm that the nationwide strike will commence as stipulated on Tuesday 14th November 2023.
“To this effect, all National, State and Chapter executives are requested to start the mobilization of our members in total compliance with this directive.
“Please note that withdrawal of Services nationwide commences from 0.00 hours of Tuesday, November 14, 2023. Please ensure total compliance,” NUEE said.
With Punch, ThisDay, Premium Times reports
