The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kwara State has commenced picketing establishments that have not complied with the national body’s directive on the indefinite nationwide strike.
Comrade Saheed Olayinka, the chairman, told reporters in Ilorin that the action aims to ensure total compliance with the national union’s directive.
Olayinka clarified that there have been no instances of harassment or threats of arrest against labour leaders by authorities.
Our correspondents reported that some private educational institutions and commercial banks chose to open for business.
In Zamfara State, the strike had relatively low compliance
Leaders of the two labour unions, Sani Halliru and Saidu Mudi, addressed journalists in Gusau, expressing their commitment to the indefinite strike.
A visit by Radio Nigeria to the federal and state secretariats in Gusau observed limited compliance, with staff seen coming in and out of the facilities.
Many civil servants called on the unions to champion the rights of their members collectively, citing Zamfara State, where they said civil servants are not being paid a minimum wage.
In an interview, Barrister Bello Galadi, the former Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association in Zamfara State, expressed skepticism about the connection between the assault on the NLC President and the nationwide strike.
Barrister Galadi urged the Inspector General of Police to arrest, investigate, and prosecute the NLC President for “actions likely to cause a breach of public peace and unnecessary hardship to over 200 million people.”
A relatively large number of workers in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, did not join the strike as businesses continued unhindered.
