NLC/TUC strike hits Lagos, Kano, Osogbo as banks, schools, medical unions, others comply
By Emma Ogbuehi (With Agency Reports)
The nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has begun to take tolls on the economy as with affiliate unions joining the industrial action.
The unions included the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria, and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP).
Others are the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees, the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), the National Union of Electricity Employees, and the Nigeria Union of Railway Workers.
The strike comes on the heels of the physical assault NLC National President Joe Ajaero was subjected to in Imo State two weeks ago when he and other NLC members were in the South-East state for a demonstration over “non-payment of salaries and pensions for 44 months and violation of other labour rights”.
Following Ajaero’s ordeal, the organised labour called for a nationwide strike beginning today.
This comes as the National Industrial Court (NIC) has restrained the Unions from embarking on the strike in the wake of the impasse with the Imo State Government.
In spite of the court order, the unions, in a statement on Monday, directed workers nationwide to withdraw their services at midnight.
READ ALSO:
BREAKING: ASUU joins NLC/TUC nationwide strike as FG kicks
“In furtherance to the decision of the Joint National Executive Council (NEC) of NLC and TUC, all workers in Nigeria are hereby directed to withdraw their services effective 12:00 midnight today, 13th November 2023,” the unions said in a joint statement.
“Consequently, all affiliates and state councils of NLC/TUC are directed to issue circulars for maximum compliance and these circulars be made available to the National Secretariats or posted to the NEC and CWC Whatsapp Platforms.”
In Lagos State, affiliates of the Labour movement on Tuesday complied with the directive to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.
Meanwhile, the government on November 13 warned against the action, saying it would amount to contempt of court. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, in a statement, said the government had obtained a restraining order from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria barring the unions from going ahead with the strike.
Notwithstanding, the Secretary General, Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, Segun Esan, told newsmen that 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 of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions, Mr Oluwole Olusoji, said advice had been sent out to members on compliance.
He said that members had been advised to ensure the safeguard of lives 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 similar vein, the Kano State Chapter of the NLC has joined the nationwide strike in compliance with the directives of the national body of the union.
According to The PUNCH primary and secondary schools, as well as tertiary institutions, in the state, have also joined the strike.
It was observed that primary and day secondary school pupils who went to school as early as 7.30 am were compelled 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.
Students in Bayero University Kano who are currently sitting for their first semester examination are also affected by the strike as a number of them who went to the examination halls had to return to their respective hostels.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Ministry of Education has suspended the 2023 Secondary Schools Qualifying Examination scheduled to take place today, until further notice.
A statement signed by the Director of Public Enlightenment of the Ministry, Balarabe Kiru, revealed that the suspension is compelled by the industrial action embarked upon by the NLC and TUC nationwide.
The statement, however, appealed to the people concerned, especially students and parents or guardians, to bear with any inconvenience that may be caused by the suspension.
Students in public schools in Osogbo, Osun, were sent home on Tuesday following the nationwide strike.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observed that students from various public primary and secondary schools were seen on the roads and streets, heading back home.
At CAC Grammar School, Gbodofon, Osogbo, the gate awas left wide open as students were moving out of the school premises while some teachers were seen gathered under a tree, holding discussions.
Similarly, some banks in Osogbo refused to open their doors to customers, while some were skeptical about opening and few opened for business transactions.
Most offices at the state secretariat in Abere were deserted, with few workers observed going into and moving about within the secretariat.
Mrs Modupeola Oyedele, Osun State NLC Caretaker Chairperson, told NAN that the strike is in compliance with the directive from the NLC and TUC headquarters.
Oyedele said the instruction to their members was to stay away from work, and that there would not be any form of street protest.
NAN reports that the labour unions on Monday evening directed their members and affiliates to withdraw their services starting from Tuesday (today), a move the government terms illegal.
