AGGRIEVED workers shut down agencies and departments of government in Abuja in a coordinated nationwide strike which began today, Monday, June 3, over minimum wage and reversal of electricity tariff hike.
The workers shut down the National Assembly, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the Federal Secretariat, and the Old Secretariat among other noble public institutions in the city, in compliance with the strike order, issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The strike is holding despite several negotiations involving the representatives of the federal government, the leadership of the National Assembly, the NLC and the TUC.
One of the meetings took place yesterday, Sunday, June 2 courtesy of the leadership of the National Assembly.
The meeting, which started after 5 pm ended around 8 pm and failed to stop the strike.
Early Monday morning, some workers reportedly began picketing major government buildings and offices in Abuja and other parts of Nigeria.
Videos and pictures seen by The ICIR on social media confirmed the development.
In some of the pictures and videos, workers in Abuja shut down the Federal Secretariat in compliance with an indefinite strike action.
Also, according to a report by Punch, the Joint Union Action Committee asked workers at the FCTA to shut the entrance to the complex.
The committee further urged workers to stay at home, stating that the union was enforcing the strike.
Some workers and directors who attempted to flout the order were reportedly denied entry by the organisation.
In the same vein, the Parliamentary Staff Union of Nigeria joined the indefinite strike, resulting in the shutdown of the National Assembly.
The union closed both gates of the Assembly complex, blocking entry for workers and visitors.
Additionally, the union cut off electricity and water supply to the Senate and the House of Representatives buildings, along with other facilities in the complex.
In Kano State, the strike affected banks, civil servants, and airport, as aviation staff did not report to work, according to Daily Trust.
However, private schools remained open as their employees defied the strike directive from the organised labour.
The shutdown also significantly disrupted government operations and services in Lagos State.
Among several reports of workers shunning work in the state was a case of judicial workers shutting down major gates to the Ikeja High Court.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the gates were shut by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ikeja Branch.
The NLC officials were also captured in a video shutting down a bank in the state by workers who were chased out from the labour union.
Similarly, the union leaders forcefully closed the Lagos office of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and led employees out using a cane.
The strike has reportedly been effective in many states, including Imo, Osun, Oyo, and Edo, as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) shut down the national grid, plunging the country into darkness.
The ICIR reported how aviation, banks, airports, and maritime workers among others directed its members to join the strike.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M