Warning strike: Labour shuts down seaports, airports, govt offices across Nigeria

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) made good its plan to embark on a 2-day warning strike over the Federal Government’s discontinuation of fuel subsidy payments and what it called overbearing intrusion into Labour affairs by the Presdent Bola Tinubu administration.

Activities at the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos, were in their shadows on Tuesday as members of the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) joined the strike.

The Economy also gathered that the seaports in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Onne, Warri and Calabar observed that the ports were grounded in compliance with the NLC directive.

Also, the Murtala Mohammed Airport, both local and international were in skeletal form as members of NUATE fully complied with the NLC directive to stay off duty.

As he earlier indicated on the matter of the warning strike, the President-General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju confirmed his union’s “total compliance” with the NLC directive.

Adeyanju, who is also the Deputy President of NLC, said “no cargo evacuation process is taking place at all the ports in the country”.

In Kano State, Labour unions shut down government offices and other facilities in the state.

The Economy gathered that as early as 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning, the labour union were on ground to carry out enforcement.

The State Vice Chairman of the union, Ado Riruwai who led the enforcement exercise, told Vanguard that it has shut down all government offices in the state. Riruwai, who doubles as the Chairman, Private Sector Unions in the state, also said all power sector and banks were under key. He further said that they were proceeding to the airport to ensure no flight took off from the airport.

He said: “we have shut down all power sector. Banks are not operating. We heard a flight took off this morning from the airport, we are heading down there to ensure no flight take off from the airport. All government offices were under key and lock.

Among facilities shut down include, the Kano Electric Distribution Company, KEDCO head office.

Recall that the NLC had given notice to embark on the two-day warning strike to protest the excruciating mass suffering and impoverishment experienced around the country, occassioned by the fuel subsidy removal.

In Ebonyi State, the closure of the banks left customers stranded.

While some resorted to using the Automated Teller Machines, many complained that they had other transactions they wanted to carry out. The state Headquarters of the Judiciary opposite Old Government House was also under lock as Lawyers and Judges stayed away.

Same situation was noticed at the Ochudo Secretariat where all the Ministries are quartered.

The situation forced some top government officials to rescheduled meetings and events they had already planned to hold on Tuesday in their various Ministries.

The state chairman of NLC, Ogugua Egwu confirmed compliance of workers to the strike.

He described the compliance as total, impressive and satisfactory.

Egwu said: “All Offices are locked from Judiciary to UBEB to Secretariat. I am glad and impressed that oir people are begining to see the need for them to make their voices heard.”