Government offices, courts and public schools were on Thursday shut in Ilorin, Akure and Port Harcourt in compliance with the organised labour’s directive on the ongoing strike.
The organised labour began its strike midnight, Wednesday, following the delay by Federal Government in concluding negotiation on a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers..
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents, who went round reports that public schools, courts and government offices were closed.
In Ilorin, there was minimal traffic very early in the morning, unlike before the strike when there is always rushing of workers and students, as the roads were less busy.
Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) offices, Ministries and Agencies at the Secretariats had their staff members locked out.
Also, pupils and students of primary and secondary schools were sent back home by their teachers, who were seen hanging around.
Magistrate courts and High court gates were also locked with their staff seen loitering around the gates.
NAN also reports that for the first time, telecommunications operators also joined the industrial action making their customer service inoperative.
However, banks were still operating as they continued their normal business transactions.
In Port Harcourt, public schools children were also denied entrance into their schools on Thursday following the nationwide strike declared by the Organised labour.
NAN reports that the situation around the Ogbogoro, Rumuolumeni, Old GRA and Port Harcourt Township areas where students were refused to enter the school premises.
Most of the schools visited were under lock and key, even as both teachers and non-teaching staff were absent.
A security guard at the Community Secondary School, Ogbogoro, who gave his name as James Acheru told NAN that he was directed not to allow the students into the school premises.
“They told me not to allow students into the school because of the strike, So all the students who came today were asked to go back,’’ he said.
Some of students who spoke with NAN at Government Secondary, Rumeme, expressed concerns at the ongoing disagreement between labour and the government.
One of them, Miss Sharon Nwika said the government ought to be committed to issues bothering on workers’ welfare.
“With this strike, we are the ones to suffer, my prayer is that they resolve quickly so that we can continue academic activities,’’ she said.
Workers in Ondo State on Thursday complied with the directive of the Organised Labour to begin strike over government’s failure to implement a new national minimum wage.
Government offices, public schools, banks, hospitals and government’s owned media organisations in Ondo state were under lock and keys to comply with the strike order.
Public offices in Akure were observed to be under lock and keys as workers shunned their duty posts.
Banks and other offices at Alagbaka area of Akure were closed for business activities, but ATMs were working with some staff of the banks rendering skeletal services.
At the state High Court, National Industrial Court, Appeal Court and Federal High Court and Magistrate Court located at Oke-Eda, Alagbaka and Igbatoro road in Akure gates were also under lock and key when NAN visited.
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), Mr Abel Oloniyo led other labour leaders to move round public offices to enforce the strike in the state.
The Ondo State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Soladoye Ekundayo, Mr Tayo Ogunleye of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) represented by the state Secretary, Alhaji Adewale Sanusi were also on tour to monitor the compliance of workers.
In an interview with newsmen, Ekundayo commended workers in the state for complying with the directive on the strike, saying that public institutions/offices would remain closed until government yield to the demands of the workforce.
Ogunleye disclosed that leadership of all labour unions in Ondo state should ensure all workers stay away from their duty posts until further notice.
However, the labour leaders forcibly moved out some workers, who were working at the state owned Orange FM, a government owned media organisation in Akure and Comprehensive Health Centre, Arakale, Akure.(NAN)