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From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Banks, airport, hospitals, courts, ministries and other government agencies were yesterday, shut down completely in Edo State in compliance with the ongoing nation wide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Addressing reporters at the State Secretariat Complex in Benin, the NLC state chairman, Odion Olaye said they are in full compliance with the strike.
“I am very delighted with what the Edo State NLC and the TUC have displayed today. We are addressing the press at the premises of the Edo state secretariat.
“It is being shut down since 6am. Edo State High Court and other courts within the metropolis , the banks, airport, NPDC etc.
“I want to commend the effort of everyone of us for coming out today to cry to God. We have cried to them (federal government)two weeks ago and they didn’t listen to our cry and we are crying to God Almighty and we know He will hear our prayers”, Olaye said.
Also speaking, the TUC state chairman, Alabi Precious, said their actions were necessitated by the attack on the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and the failure of the government to comply with the memorandum of understanding that was reached with both unions when the fuel subsidy was removed.
Check by Daily Sun around the state capital, showed that Court premises, deposit banks, and other financial institutions were under lock and key in strict compliance to the NLC directives.
Activities in government ministries and agencies were also halted by the solidarity strike while only private businesses open for transactions.
Also, Oredo, Egor and other local government secretariats visited in Benin were in compliance with the strike as workers in their numbers were seen milling round the councils’ premises
In a twist, the Congress of Nigeria University Academics (CONUA), University of Benin (Uniben) Chapter, distanced itself from the ongoing NLC strike, describing it as a “one man decision”.
The Chairman of the Uniben CONUA, Ishaq Osagie-Eweka, who stated this in a chat with newsmen in Benin, said that CONUA is not an affiliate of the NLC, hence, its not part of the protest.
“On behalf of CONUA members, Uniben chapter, I wish to unequivocally state that we are not an affiliate of NLC, hence, we are not part of the protest.
“I call on our members to go about their lawful duties for the overall best interest of the students.
“As a chapter, we shall not make any public statement regarding the sudden strike arising from one man’s decision, over his ill-conceived protest at Imo State that led to an alleged physical attack”, he said
Dr. Osagie-Eweka, however, maintained that the reason behind CONUA is to promote uninterrupted academic calendar of university education in Nigeria.
He noted that the administration of the Vice Chancellor of University of Benin is in conformity with the union’s objectives of having a smooth and uninterrupted academic calendar in the school.
