From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
Workers particularly civil servants in Rivers State, said late directive from various national union bodies affected strike compliance as declared by the organized labour.
Checks by Daily Sun revealed several federal and state governments establishments, as well as financial institutions opened for services in Port Harcourt and its environs.
Though in the morning, there were skeletal services at some of the banks in Port Harcourt City, but in the afternoon, there were full operations.
Also, at the Federal Government secretariat, virtually all the government offices were functional. It was the same report at the state secretariat.
But, civil servants in Rivers State have vowed to shutdown operations on Wednesday, with early blocking of the state secretariat gate.
A top civil servant with one of the state-owned media houses, told Daily Sun that even as at 4pm, the leaderships of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) were at a meeting to strategize for the total lockdown on Wednesday.
The officer, who craved to remain anonymous, said: “Well, because the directive from the Labour House came late yesterday, at about 7pm to 8pm, when workers had already gone home, the strike couldn’t have much impact today, particularly within the civil service and banks.
“We believe by tomorrow (Wednesday), it would be stiffer than today. There would be more compliance than what we experienced today.
“The joint council, which is the arm that controls the main civil service realm, they have been having meeting. Even as I speak with you, there is this move to go to the secretariat as early as tomorrow morning to block the gate.
“The gate of secretariat was opened today. But, it won’t happen tomorrow, do as to make the strike more stronger than what we witnessed today. Wednesday would be a different situation. There is no going back expect otherwise.”
Another civil servant on Grade Level 15, who simply gave his name as Sampson in one of the state ministries said, they work they executed were skeletal.
He said: “Today, we tried to be in office till closing hour. But, Wednesday will be a different story. The secretariat would be a ghost town. Even, roads would be deserted. Enough is enough.”
Meanwhile, most of the filling stations in Port Harcourt shutdown operations since Monday night.