FOLLOWING the order of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for its members to commence strike from Wednesday to protest hike in the price of petrol, there were protests in some states of the federation.
In many states, NLC leaders led members on a protest in many streets of state capitals.
While there was partial compliance in some states, others like Ekiti, Ondo, Gombe, and Plateau had full compliance to the order. However, in almost half of the country, especially the North-West the strike failed.
Edo
There was partial compliance in the industrial action called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Edo State with adherence largely observed in the public sector.
It was observed that many public workers attempted to resume work at their posts but were not allowed to gain entrance to their offices by members of the organised labour, who shut entrances to the offices.
At the state workers’ secretariat (Palm House), workers, who arrived for duties, were chased away by members of the NLC and civil society organisations.
In the public schools, students were asked to go back home, even as it was observed that some few schools in the state capital, Benin, shunned the stay-at-home order.
There was almost zero compliance in the private sector as banks, filling stations and businesses were opened.
The state government also directed workers in the state public service to shun the strike and stay at their duty posts, warning that any worker who shuns work under the guise of strike would forfeit his or her pay.
Abuja
Workers at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, defied the strike declared by the leadership of the NLC, they reported to their normal duty posts on Wednesday.
Checks by the Nigerian Tribune at the Federal Secretariat where most of the Federal Government ministries are located, revealed that normal activities were being carried out by the civil servants.
The Federal Government has also directed all civil servants to report to duty punctually, working in difiance to the purported NLC strike, which was partially observed in some parts of the country on Wednesday.
In a circular issued to all permanent secretaries and heads of extra- ministerial departments by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Common Services Office (CSO) in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr S.K.Y. Adelakun, urged “all civil servants to report punctually to work daily.”
The circular further directed all permanent secretaries and heads of extra- ministerial departments to ensure strict compliance to the directive.
It was, however, observed at the federal secretariat that the police and officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) mounted strategic locations, including entrance gates to the various offices as early as 6.30a.m on Wednesday.
Banks located within the secretariat were also opened to their customers with food vendors going about their normal businesses.
Oyo
Members of the organised Labour unions, comprising Oyo State NLC, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joint Action Front (JAF), Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), MDCAN, among others, on Wednesday, declared that the strike would commence today and called on the Federal Government to reverse the new pump price of petrol back to N86.50k.
The position was known by the Oyo NLC chairman, Comrade Waheed Olojede, while addressing members of the public on Wednesday, at various joints where the group protested by making procession across major roads in Ibadan.
“The position of the Nigerian people now as made by the labour leaders is that the Federal Government should go back to the drawing board to do a re-think and reverse the price of fuel from N145 to N86.50k,” Olojede said.
Though there were free flow of vehicles in Ibadan, the protest rally took off from the state headquarters of the labour congress, moved round the state capital through Gate, Oje, Bere, Orita Merin, Dugbe, J. Allen, Mokola Round about and secretariat.
Banks and other private businesses were open to the public, but people came out to watch, dance and sing with the group at most locations where they passed through.
Kwara
The strike embarked upon by the NLC over fuel price increase paralysed activities in government offices, ministries, agencies and parastatals in Ilorin, on Wednesday.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the leadership of the NLC in the state went round government establishments to enforce compliance, just as gates to such establishments like the state secretariat, state universal basic education board (SUBEB), state High Court, ministries of Health, Education, Finance, water corporation and civil service clinic were locked.
Also, students in public schools, who had gone to their different schools, were seen returning to their various homes at about 8:00 a.m.
Taraba
There was high level of non-compliance with the directive by the NLC in Jalingo, Taraba State, as workers and traders in the state ignored the strike order.
Most of the state-owned establishments, banks, schools, other organisations and markets were observed carrying out their routine activities unhindered.
Nigerian Tribune learnt that some state establishments like the Civil Service Commission, Board of Internal Revenue and the state secretariat remained open despite the strike order.
Some of the civil servants, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune, said the strike was totally unnecessary and ill-timed
The state NLC chairman, Mr Peter Gambo, said there was partial, not total, compliance with the strike in the state.
He revealed that the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had since withdrawn from the strike.
Gambo, however, said the NLC would continue to negotiate with the Federal Government on the subsidy withdrawal, despite the partial compliance with the warning strike.
Benue
The strike declared by the NLC was not effective in Benue State, on Wednesday, as socio-economic activities were at its best.
Nigerian Tribune, who went round capital city on Wednesday, reported that both public and private schools opened for students, while banks also opened their doors to customers.
Markets and shops were all opened.
Workers were seen at both the federal and state secretariats in the capital city, commercial vehicles and motorcyclists popularly known as okada riders were also on the roads.
Many workers, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune, expressed dissatisfaction with the strike, accusing labour leaders in the state for not attending to their plights over the non-payment of their five-month salaries.
However, members of Benue State University (BSU) chapter of ASUU complied with the strike order, as lecturers shunned classes.
Chairman of the union, Mr David Ikoni, told newsmen on phone that the union wrote to the university management intimating it that they would participate in the strike as an affiliate of NLC.
Failure of workers to comply with the strike order forced labour leaders in the state to move from offices to offices to enforce, but were rebuffed by workers.
The state labour chairman, Godwin Anya, who led union leaders, told newsmen that non-compliance of workers to the strike was as a result of its short notice, but promised that the compliance would be total today.
Ogun
The planned nationwide strike by the NLC, partially paralysed activities in Ogun State, on Wednesday
Members of the union, led by the state chairman, Comrade Akeem Ambali, as early as 7.30a.m., converged on the NLC headquarters on Abiola Way, Abeokuta, to embark on peaceful protest against the increase.
The protesters sang solidarity songs to express their displeasure over the development.
Nigerian Tribune, who went round the town, observed that pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools were seen returning home at about 8.30a.m, while some were playing football on their school fields.
Some banks earlier in the day shut their doors against customers, but later opened for businesses at about 10.00 a.m.
Also, the state High Court at Isabo area of the town was also closed down.
However, workers in the service of the state government defied the stay at home order and turned out en masse for work.
At about 9.30am, many of them were at their duty posts carrying out their normal day to day activities.
Speaking with newsmen, Ambali said the strike was called to fight against oppression in the interest of the masses.
Abia
The nationwide strike called by the Comrade Ayuba Wabba-led faction of the NLC was greeted with partial compliance by workers in Abia State, as markets, government offices and banks opened for business.
Nigerian Tribune, who went round the city of Umuahia and its environments, observed that virtually all the banks and most government offices were open, against the directives given by the leadership of the NLC for workers to stay back at home.
It was further observed that pupils and students of public schools who went to school on Wednesday were asked to go home, while filling stations and commercial transport were seen plying the roads as against the expected full compliance to the nationwide strike.
Rivers
Workers and residents of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Wednesday, went about their normal duties and activities as there was no form of protest as directed by the NLC against the recent increase in the pump price of fuel.
Indications emerged early in the day that the call for a protest was doomed to fail, as school children and students were going to their various schools in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
This was as there were normal activities, even as the commercial banks, operating in the violent-prone Mile 1, Ikwerre Road axis of the Port Harcourt metropolis, opened their doors to customers.
Even civil servants and workers in the oil sector were at their duty posts as a senior staff of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria (TEPNG) Limited told the Nigerian Tribune that work was going on as normal in the company.
However, chairman of the state chapter of the TUC, Comrade Chija Onuegbu, said the congress did not participate in the strike in the state, based on an agreement it had with Federal Government.
Onuegbu, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, on Wednesday, further directed all affiliates and members of TUC in the state to go about their normal business.
Declaring that TUC would not participate in any strike, he said the action was taken based on some understanding with the government on an immediate setting up of a committee to determine appropriate types and measures of palliatives within two weeks.
Imo
The industrial action declared by the NLC nationwide was partially successful in Imo State, because the core civil servants in the state obeyed the call of labour to stay at home.
The state secretariat on the Port Harcourt/Owerri Road was under lock and keys, because workers, in obedience of labour instruction, decided to stay at home as directed by the union.
When the Nigerian Tribune visited some local government areas, headquarters of the secretariats were under lock and keys, while some were opened without workers in attendance
The public school students who reported to schools returned homes because there were no teachers to teach them while their counterparts from privates schools attended schools.
Commercial banks in the state, however, opened to customers, while markets and commercial transportation were fully operational.
When contacted, the state chairman of NLC, Austin Chilakpo, said the increase of fuel pump price at N145 was bad timing, because some states in the country were unable to pay their workers’ salaries.
Kano
Virtually all markets in the ancient city of Kano, as well as private organisations were not in compliance with the strike declared by the NLC.
This is just as the state chairman of the NLC, Comrade Ado Minjibir, said the people were committed to comply with the directive, but many got the information late.
However, the state secretariat, Adu Bako, were open but only few civil servants were seen within the premises.
Most of the civil servants who were around said they only came to register and sign their names.
When the Nigerian Tribune went round the state to ascertain level of compliance with the strike order, traders in most markets were seen doing their normal business transaction.
Also, commercial banks were seen attending to their various customers.
However, at the entrance of each bank, security was beefed up to check unforseen circumstances.
Lagos
The strike called by the NLC to protest nationwide the hike in price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popular called petrol, recorded no noticeable success on Wednesday, in Lagos, as workers, residents, commercial motorists, students, among others, went about their normal business activities.
At the Lagos State government secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, workers and government officials resumed for normal activities like any other day.
All the offices were open for business as there was no sign of strike, even as the normal meeting of the state executive council, which used to take place every Wednesday at State House, Alausa, took place, with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode presiding.
Also, banks within the government secretariat were seen open for business as bank customers moved in and out of them.
Activities at the Ikeja City Mall, housing Shoprite and major business outfits remained bubbling as usual as shoppers and others came to transact their various businesses.
The NLC threatened to ground flight operations at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, from today.
Mr Adelegan Solomon, Vice-President, NLC, made this known while addressing protesters at the MMIA over the government’s removal of fuel subsidy.
According to him, the N145 per litre announced by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) would further increase the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
He noted that Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) were members of AUCPTRE, adding that arrangements had been perfected to ground flight operations at the airport from today.
“Today, few planes have taken-off and landed on this airport but by tomorrow, no plane will land or take off. It is operation occupy Lagos State,’’ Solomon said.
Delta
In compliance with the directive of the national executive of the NLC, workers in Delta State, on Wednesday, carried out a peaceful protest, while government offices remained under lock and keys. .
Banks in the state capital operated for skeletal services before closing their doors to customers, just as public school children, who reported for academic activities, were turned back by school authorities.
At the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, no new admission of patients was recorded while state hospital workers down their tools, leaving patients in dilemma.
As early as 7.00a.m, state executive of the NLC and members of the affiliate unions had gathered at the traffic light on Nnebisi Road, in Asaba, where they embarked on a long walk of several kilometres to the Government House on Anwai Road.
The workers, who carried placards with different inscriptions, accused the Federal Government of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians on the fuel issue.
Laying their grievances before the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, spokesman of NLC in the state, Comrade Jonathan Jemiriegbe, contented that the indefinite strike action would continue until a reversal in the pump price was implemented.
Enugu
The strike embarked upon by the NLC was partial in Enugu State.
Nigerian Tribune observed that there was normal academic activities in both primary and post-primary schools in the state, while many of the civil servants and federal ministries were seen carrying out their official duties unhindered.
Some of the civil servants interviewed, but preferred to remain anonymous, said they were in office waiting for further directives from their union leaders.
Contacted, the state chairman of the NLC, Comrade Virginus Nwobodo, said leaders of the NLC in the state complied and were observing the strike, except the Trade Union Congress (TUC) members, who were yet to join the industrial action.
Cross River
The Cross River chapter of the NLC, on Wednesday, called out workers for an indefinite strike over the increase in price of petrol from N86.50 to N145 by the Federal Government.
Mr John Ushie, Chairman of NLC in the state, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), that they had no option but to embark on strike after the meetings between the labour leaders and the Federal Government ended in deadlock.
A check by NAN at the state and federal secretariats showed that some offices were locked while a few people were seen in groups discussing the development.
One of them, who pleaded anonymity, said he was confused whether the strike was holding or not.
Mr Eyo Nsa-Etim, Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers in the state, told NAN that government’s primary and secondary schools in the state would remain closed until further notice.
Akwa Ibom
The NLC in Akwa Ibom shut offices in the state and federal secretariats and barred workers from entering their offices.
NAN reported that the gates of state secretariat known as Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat was locked as early as 7.30 a.m, on Wednesday.
The situation was also the same when NAN visited the federal secretariat on Abak Road in Uyo.
Union leaders were seen outside the gate of the secretariats chanting solidarity songs while workers who turned up for work could not access their offices.
However, teachers and pupils were seen observing their morning devotion in some public schools in the Uyo.
Banks in the state capital and some cities like Eket and Abak were opened for business and fuel stations were also selling the products to motorists.
Chairman of NLC in the state, Etim Ukpong, said the strike called by Ayuba Wabba-led faction of NLC was in force.
Ukpong emphasised that workers in Akwa Ibom were on strike.
Workers reported for duty while commercial banks opened for business.
Bauchi, Yobe, Jigawa, Adamawa, Gombe
Normal activities are continuing in Bauchi, Yobe, Adamawa, and Jigawa states, as residents ignored the call by the NLC to embark on strike over the increase in pump price of fuel.
NAN, however, reported that there was partial compliance in Gombe State.
NAN correspondents, who monitored the situation in those states, reported that key institutions like banks, schools, state and federal secretariats, hospitals, markets and all major commercial, centres were open for normal activities.
In Bauchi, where some youths demonstrated the previous day in support of the deregulation of the downstream oil sector, labour officials did not attempt to enforce the strike.
A civil servant working with the state government, Sanusi Ibrahim, said most workers were not in support of the strike.
Contacted on telephone, on Wednesday, for his comment, chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Hashimu Gitel, told NAN that he was on his way to Abuja.
He, however, said his other colleagues would brief the press later in the day.
Normal activities were observed in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, with banks, schools, hospitals, state and federal secretariats open for business.
An official of the NLC in the state, who did not want his name mentioned, told NAN that they would meet later in the day to decide on their next line of action.
NAN correspondents in Yola also reported that normal activities were going on in Yola and other major towns of Adamawa, as schools, banks, markets, as well as the state and dfederal secretariats, remained open.
Many people, who spoke on the failure of the strike, said they were not convinced that the action was the best alternative in the present circumstance.
A bank staff who pleaded for anonymity told NAN that they observed the situation for some time and decided to open at about 9:00a.m as against official time of 8:00a.m.
NAN reported that officers and men of Nigeria Police force were seen in strategic places to ensure safety of lives and property.
Plateau
Commercial activities were paralysed on Wednesday, in Plateau State, following strike embarked upon by the NLC.
Going round Jos, the state capital, governmental organisations, such as state and federal secretariats, were deserted while commercial banks and other government establishments were also shut to customers.
Students of both public primary and secondary schools in the state reported to school, but were disappointed that their teachers were not on ground .
Staff of the University of Jos and the Nigerian Television Authority College were also denied access to their various institutions by members of the NLC, while staff of the state house of assembly were denied access to their offices by members of the NLC.
The Plateau NLC, in a statement, tagged: “Mobilisation for industrial Action,” signed by Comrade Izang Francis Atsen and made available to newsmen in Jos, pointed out that the unilateral increase in the pump price of fuel and electricity tariff by the Federal Government would cause hardship for Nigeria and make lives unbearable.
Kogi
The strike called by the leadership of the NLC over the removal of fuel subsidy did not hold in Kogi State, as government offices and schools were opened for normal governmental and academic activities.
Apart from this, the much expected protest over the hike in pump price of petroleum did not take place in Lokoja, the state capital.
A visit to the government secretariat, public and private schools in the metropolis showed that the offices were opened, while students and pupils were also seen in the schools.
Although, there was only a handful civil servants around, the offices were not locked in anticipation that members of staff of the ministries and parastatals would still report for work.
Also, the Paparanda area of the state capital, where the protest was supposed to commence, was deserted as a detachment of police were seen around ready to disperse any protesting crowd.
Ekiti
The nationwide industrial action declared by the organised labour in Ekiti State was effective until late Wednesday afternoon, as the development took toll on economic, government and sundry activities.
Banks, government offices, public and private schools (except Catholic-run schools and some private schools) and businesses in the state capital did not open, while members of the labour unions rallied in the town against the increase in the pump price of petrol.
Officials and members of both the NLC and TUC, as well as those of the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), students under the aegis of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), as well as artisans marched through the streets of Ado Ekiti.
However, after the rally in the morning, where the labour leaders addressed people on what they described as the evils of the new petroleum price regime, shops and some other businesses began to open in the state capital.
Kaduna
The nationwide strike embarked upon by the NLC was a flop in Kaduna.
Earlier, the state chairman of the Ayuba Waba’s faction of the NLC, Comrade Adamu Ango, had instructed workers to remain at home and not report to work, but findings by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that the workers refused to take instructions as they reported to work on Wednesday.
When our reporter visited the state secretariat on Independence Way, kaduna, civil servants were seen in their offices.
Also, Nigerian Tribune noticed that schools, banks as well as markets, were all opened.
When contacted, the chairman of the Northern Traders Association, Ayuba Mohammed, also explained why the leadership of the association directed its members to open their shops and markets in all the 19 northern states.
According to him,”we did not even know whether labour exist. He said if we did not open the markets and our shops, the sufferings that would be inflicted on Nigerians will be severe. We don’t want to be part of it.
“We consider the labour agitation as selfish as they don’t have the interest of the people at heart.”
Also speaking, the state chairman of the Ajaero faction of the NLC, Comrade James Ephraim, said they were not part of Wednesday’s strike, as, according to him, discussion was ongoing between their faction of the labour, led by its National president, Joe Ajaero.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Textiles Workers Union, Comrade Issa Aremu, called for a united labour if the labour movement really wants to succeed in its current agitation.
This was contained in a press statement he issued to newsmen in Kaduna, on Wednesday.
Osun
Social and economic activities were, on Wednesday, grounded in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, as members of the NLC, the state chapter and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) stormed major streets to protest the increase in the pump price of petrol from N86.50 per litre to N145 by the Federal Government.
Similarly, leaders of the labour movement in the state also blocked the major entrance into the state secretariat, Abeere, to prevent few workers who wanted to report for duty from gaining entry into the premises.
The crowd of protesters, including civil servants and members of the CSOs, later converged on the popular Olaiya junction, where the chairman of the state NLC addressed them.
However, anti riot policemen, operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were on hand to monitor the protest, with a view to preventing it from being hijacked by hoodlums.
Speaking to newsmen at the venue of the rally to round off the protest, Osun State chairman of the NLC, Comrade Jacob Adekomi, said “we have held a successful protest to kick against the increase in the price of petrol. We have been here since 8.30a.m and now people are just dispersing and we are still coming here tomorrow to continue the protest.”
In his remark, the leader of CSOs and human rights, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, said: “today’s protest is a landmark for Nigerians to reject N145 per litre of petrol imposed on us by the Federal Government. It is a commendable effort for Nigerians to resist this wicked increase and we will continue the protest until the price is reviewed downward.”
We are not on strike —NUPENG
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has said that its members are not on strike and are going about performing their legitimate duties.
In a statement by NUPENG, signed by its president, Comrade Achese Igwe, it stated that it aligned with the Comrade Joseph Ajaero-led faction of the NLC not to embark on the nationwide strike action.
The union directed all its members nationwide to go to work and ignore the calls by the Wabba Ayuba-led faction of the NLC to go on strike.
The union called on its members working in oil installations, loading depots to be alive to their responsibilities.
NUPENG reiterated that all filling stations must be opened for the petrol station workers to dispense petroleum products to the end users.
Source:Tribune
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