NLC strike cripples economic activities
nationwide
.. Ogun records partial compliance, as banks, hospitals close shop
By Aremu Sosanya
Government activities were on Tuesday grounded in the federal capital territory (FCT) as many civil servants stayed away from the office in compliance with the two-day warning strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Salient Times report that on September 1, Joe Ajaero, NLC president, announced that the union would embark on a two-day warning strike on Tuesday over the impact of petrol subsidy removal on the masses.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Simon Lalong, the minister of labour and employment, appealed to the NLC to suspend the proposed warning strike.
Lalong noted that such a strike would be detrimental to the gains already being recorded by the new administration.
In a meeting slated to douse the strike on Monday afternoon, the leadership of NLC was absent as only Festus Osifo, president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), showed up for the sit-down.
It was gathered that while some ministries gave maximum compliance to the strike, others operated partially.
MDAs DESERTED, PARTIAL OPENING IN SOME
When Salient Times visited the federal secretariat complex where the majority of the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are domiciled, only a few civil servants were seen.
At the federal ministry of education, the entrance gate was half opened while workers were seen seated in groups around the building.
A front desk officer, who identified herself as Sarah, said that the few workers who were around were those in the administration department.
She added that they came to the office “because the minister is around”.
“All of us you see here are only waiting to leave after the minister. You know it won’t make any sense for us to leave before the minister,” the front desk officer said.
Offices at the ministries of science and technology, youth and sports, information and culture, bureau of public reforms, and ecological fund office were also not opened.
Traffic on the ever-busy roads leading to the federal secretariat complex at the Three Arms zone was also reduced compared to what it used to be during working hours.
Also, at the Radio House, where the federal ministry of information and other agencies such as the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) were located, workers were not around. It was noticed that all offices were locked while members of NLC enforcing the compliance of the strike barricaded the entrance gate, chanting solidarity songs.
On Monday, the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) said its members would join the industrial action.
A number of branches of banks visited at Wuse 2, Garki Area 11 and Wuse Zone 2 in the FCT metropolis opened to customers while some were under lock and key.
The branches of United Banks for Africa (UBA) visited were not opened while Eco Bank offices maintained a skeletal operation. Pop
At the Wuse 2 branch of the Eco Bank, customers were initially told the banking hall was closed, but a few number of them were later allowed in.
Ogun records partial compliance, as banks, hospitals close shop
The two-day warning industrial action declared by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday recorded partial compliance in Ogun State, as civil servants, health workers, as well as others reported for work at their respective duty posts.
A visit by Salient Times to federal institutions in the State which included Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba Abeokuta, observed that medical doctors and nurses were on ground to carry out their duties, while other workers who are members of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) were absent.
Same scenario was recorded at the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, where the hospital gate was under locks and keys.
At the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), the strike recorded a hundred percent compliance as members of the Non-Academics Staff Union (NASU) put the university under lock and key, thereby preventing both academic and non-academics staff of the University and students from gaining access into the University.
Our Correspondent also gathered that commercial banks in Ijebu Ode and other parts of the State complied with the NLC’s directive to stay off work, Zenith Bank among others, were busy carrying out skeletal services to their customers.
Source within the banking sector in the State who spoke to our correspondent said that management of some of the banks placed their workers on “stand-by” in case of any change in the arrangements.
The situation is different at the State Secretariat Complex in Oke Mosan area of Abeokuta, as some civil servants were seen at their duty posts.
Transport unions, who are affiliate members of the NLC refused to join the warning strike, as commercial drivers, tricycle riders as well as the commercial motorcyclists were all busy with their businesses across the state.
Meanwhile, the State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr. Akeem Lasisi said his members did not participate in the two-day warning strike called by the NLC, because of the ongoing engagement with the Federal Government.
Lasisi noted that the Federal Government had made efforts to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy on fuel, while in negotiation with the NLC, one of which was the recent palliative releases to states.
Lasisi added that the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun had invited the NLC and TUC, immediately after the subsidy removal, and constituted a committee to come up with various interventions that could mitigate the effect of the subsidy removal, which he said showed uncommon commitment towards the welfare of workers and residents in the state.
He stated that intervention in the State included the payment of N10,000 palliatives for three months which began in July 2023, hazard allowance for members in the health sector, peculiar allowance for workers, reduction in the number of working days as well as distribution of grains from the Federal Government to the populace.
The Chairman noted that despite the various ongoing interventions, the Union would not relent in engaging the Federal Government to ensure all their demands were met, to further reduce the hardship being experienced by their members and the general public.
He therefore called on members of the union to exercise patience as the union leaders continue to negotiate with the government in the best interest of its members.
