National Library, Minna, the Niger State capital, was on Tuesday placed under locks, preventing both staff who had resumed for duty after the Christmas and New Year break and library users from gaining access into the facility.
Some workers engaged as ‘contract staff’, our correspondent gathered, had placed the facility under locks and keys until their 14 months salaries and other entitlements were paid.
Many of staff who had returned from the holiday break were seen loitering around the facility while some of the contract workers were scarcely seen around the facility apparently to prevent being arrested.
One of the contract workers on condition of anonymity claimed that they were being owed 14 months salaries and several appeals to the library management to off-set the backlog had proved abortive.
“We are waiting for them to settle our 14 months of unpaid salaries and until then the Minna National Library will remain locked or indefinite strike. Minna management will pay us or as directed from their headquarters, Abuja, by the National Librarian”, he said.
This is however the first time that category of workers would embark on protest over what is believed to be their rightful entitlement as they held unto their resolve insisting that they would not budge until the National Library management pays their entitlements.
Head of the Contract Workers in Minna, Mallam Ibrahim Danlami, later spoke to journalists, appealing to the Prof. Lanre Lenrie Olatokumbo led management of the National Library to look into their plight and direct the management of the Minna branch to pay their salaries.
Danlami said, “We will continue with the indefinite strike until our 14 months salaries are paid. The gates of the National Library, Minna, would remain under locks against staff and visitors to the library.”