The indefinite strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) is taking a toll on the country as many sectors have been shut down.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that the strike which started with the shutting down of the national grid, has affected banks, schools, government offices.
In Kano, the workers shut down both the Federal and State secretariats as well as banks. The Federal Secretariat houses the National Agency for Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals.
The Malam Aminu Kano International Airport was partially shut only allowing for the airlift of pilgrims for this year’s Hajj.
In Lagos, lawyers and litigants were turned back from entering the court premises by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) that has before this strike been threatening industrial dispute.
It is a similar situation in Oyo State as the JUSUN shut down all courts in compliance with the orders of the NLC and TUC.
In Borno, Taraba, Ondo, Delta, Osun, Edo, Kaduna and Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Anambra and Enugu States where the strike is taking place, both federal and state secretariats, airports, schools, banks.
Despite joining the strike, no university has been reportedly closed down yet because of the strike as at the time of filing this report.
Already, Nigerians are lamenting over the hardship the strike would cause them.
The traders in the Abubakar Gumi Market in Kaduna said they were not aware of the strike until when they were in the market.
Malam Abubakar Sadiq , a trader in the market said “the point of going to strike is of no use, we should just go back to God and pray for better Nigeria.
“The strike has no effect, I better go to the market and sell my wares to feed my family.
“I don’t believe in strike but dialogue, many strike has happened in this country with no reasonable results.”
Also, Rahama Idris, a foodstuff seller expressed surprise to hear that there was a strike.
Idris said “I am not in support of the strike, if you go to strike, who will bring food to your table .
“The strike is not helping the poor at all with this present condition. With the strike, life will not be easy.”
She advised the government and the NLC to sit down and settle their differences for a better Nigeria
At the Ibadan airport, stranded passengers are angry.
One of the stranded passengers at the airport, Mrs. Bolanle Ehinfun, said the strike should have been prevented by the Federal Government because the organised labour had given them enough time.
Ehinfun, a retired banker, said she had been at the airport since 8 a.m., adding that she spent about N10,000 on her transportation to the place.
“Now, they are saying the flight is cancelled due to the strike and this will cost me another N10,000 to go back home.
Health workers are however, rendering skeletal services at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) while they waited for further directives from the various unions in the hospital.
Patients were, however, still being attended to at the time of thisn report on Monday.
A few workers were also observed rendering skeletal services to some patients at the Edo Specialist Hospital.
