On day one of the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, there was mixed compliance by workers in the Federal Capital Territory.
Members of the National Assembly were the first to feel the impact as they were locked out by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria. The main gate and the annex gate were under lock and key. However, the lawmakers found their way into the complex by using the Presidential Villa link.
Some of the staff at the National Assembly said they were not adequately informed by their union leaders, otherwise they wouldn’t have bothered to show up for work and be unable to gain entrance to their offices.
The Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress on November 13 directed all affiliates to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.
The strike was called to press home their demands, especially the “non-comment by the Federal Government over the brutalising of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, by security agents and hoodlums in Imo State.”
The National Industrial Court had also restrained organised labour from embarking on the planned strike.
At the Federal Secretariat, workers were seen going about their duties.
Also, at the Area one old secretariat, workers were also seen going in and out of the place.
Commercial banks in Areas 3 were open for operation as some customers were seen going in and out of their premises.
Some schools were open and lessons were going on.
Also, some workers who spoke with journalists said the strike was uncalled for.
They said that people were already suffering because the economy was not harsh and the indefinite strike would increase hardship for the people.
Meanwhile the Federal Government has warned leadership of the Unions to obey court order on industrial action or be ready to contend with the consequences of disobeying legal orders.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, stated that the Federal Government noticed with dismay the decision by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress to call out workers to commence a strike action from midnight, despite a restraining order issued last week by Justice Benedict Backwash Kanyip of the National Industrial Court.
It stated, “We notice with dismay the decision by the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to call out workers to commence a strike action from midnight, despite a restraining order issued last week by Justice Benedict Backwash Kanyip of the National Industrial Court.
“This decision by the NLC and TUC other than being an ego tripping move is clearly unwarranted. It is an attempt to blackmail the government by the leadership of the NLC. We are still at a loss as to why the NLC and TUC decided to punish a whole country of over 200 million people over a personal matter involving the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, whose error of judgment led to assault on him in Owerri while he was planning to incite the workers in Imo State into a needless strike.’’
