NLC chase workers out of offices, banks shut in Anambra, Ondo

Officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Anambra and Ondo, on Tuesday chased workers out of the state secretariat in compliance with the directives by the congress to embark on a two-day nationwide warning strike.

It would be recalled that the NLC, in a communique at the end of its National Executive Council (NLC), said it would commence a two-day nationwide warning strike from September 5 to 6.

At the Anambra State secretariat, some NLC officials used cane to chase civil servants out of work places.

One of the workers, who preferred anonymity, said the compliance with the strike action came to her as a shock.

“This is the first time I’m witnessing Labour union taking this strike action seriously since I joined the civil service.

“For the first time I saw labour officials using cane to flog workers out from their offices. If I had known they would be this serious, I would not have reported to work today,” she said.

The Federal Secretariat opposite the state secretariat was deserted as workers did not report to work.

Banks and courts within Awka, the state capital, were all shut down.

Commercial activities in Awka were, however, ongoing as businesses, shops and markets were open with commercial transporters carrying out their businesses without obstructions.

In Ondo State, labour leaders chased workers out of their offices at the state secretariat, Akure, to ensure compliance.

The labour leaders chased out workers from their offices at the state Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health and other offices situated at Alagbaka.

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The NLC Chairman, Comrade Victor Amoko, who monitored the warning strike described it as successful, saying the strike was for all Nigerian workers and not only those in Ondo State.

Amoko said that the Federal Government had done little to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal on the workers and general populace of Nigeria.

He said that the state Head of Civil Service, Mr Kayode Ogundele, had compelled the workers to report at work in spite of the call for a warning strike by the NLC.

Meanwhile, all the banks in the state capital were under lock and key.

A staffer of one of the new generation banks in Alagbaka, Akure, said: “Our closure was to avoid any unforeseen circumstances which may happened if we open for services today,” he said.

Also bank in Ikare-Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko North East Local Government were not opened for services.

The Star