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Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kaduna, Edo, and Cross River states took measures to ensure strict compliance with the union’s two-day warning strike beginning on Tuesday (today).
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, announced the warning strike last Friday in protest against the Federal Government’s failure to address the challenges caused by the removal of fuel subsidies.
President Bola Tinubu had announced in his May 29 inaugural speech that “fuel subsidy is gone“, which has since led to fuel prices as much as tripling nationwide and a rising cost of living.
Workers in both public and private sectors in Kaduna State joined their counterparts across the country in the two-day nationwide strike.
Activities at most government ministries, departments and agencies in the state capital were grounded as workers stayed away from their offices in compliance with the NLC directive.
When Channels Television visited the Kaduna State Secretariat, where most of the ministries and other government agencies are located, it was observed that the main gate was under lock and key while the offices were deserted.
The strike also affected business activities as all commercial banks and other financial institutions did not open, a situation that left bank customers stranded.
It was the same situation at Kaduna State High Court where the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) locked the court premises and barred the staff, litigants and even lawyers from gaining access to the court premises.
Power supply in Kaduna was also disrupted following the withdrawal of services by the staff of Kaduna Electric.
While listing some of the reasons for embarking on the two-day strike, the Kaduna State NLC chairman, Ayuba Suleiman, warned that the union would declare an indefinite industrial action should the Federal Government fail to address the suffering of workers and other Nigerians due to the petrol subsidy removal. #
Similarly, the NLC in Edo State barred entrance into the state high court premises in compliance with a two-day warning strike.
The election petitions tribunals for the National Assembly and state House of Assembly had scheduled judgements in two petitions for today but they have been adjourned till Thursday.
In the same vein, Cross River State workers participated in the nationwide industrial action.
Speaking shortly after a tour across various ministries in Calabar to ensure they remained locked, the NLC Chairman, Gregory Olayi, explained that the strike was a way of communicating the economic effects of the fuel subsidy removal on the people.
