Students in public schools in Osogbo, Osun, were sent home on Tuesday following the nationwide strike declared by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
It was observed that students from various public primary and secondary schools were seen on the roads and streets, heading back home.
At CAC Grammar School, Gbodofon, Osogbo, the gate awas left wide open as students were moving out of the school premises while some teachers were seen gathered under a tree, holding discussions.
Similarly, some banks in Osogbo refused to open their doors to customers, while some were skeptical about opening and few opened for business transactions.
Most offices at the state secretariat in Abere were deserted, with few workers observed going into and moving about within the secretariat.
A staffer of the secretariat, who spoke to NAN under anonymity, said the strike has not started taking shape, and that if it was like the previous nationwide strikes, the gates to the secretariat would have been shut with members of the NLC and other labour unions blocking the gates.”
Security personnel were seen stationed at the secretariat entrance, likewise at some strategic locations in Osogbo.
Mrs Modupeola Oyedele, Osun State NLC Cartaker Chairperson, told NAN that the strike is in compliance with the directive from the NLC and TUC headquarters.
Oyedele said the instruction to their members was to stay away from work, and that there would not be any form of street protest.
“We are not doing street protest with the strike. The instruction is for workers to abstain from work and we are complying.
“Public schools have sent back their students in compliance with the strike.
“Many send their student back this morning because the strike directive came late last night, so that is why students were turned back after getting to school.
“We are ensuring that there is compliance as our officials are at the state secretariat to ensure workers do not resume in their offices,” she said
The labour unions on Monday evening directed their members and affiliates to withdraw their services starting from Tuesday (today), a move the government terms illegal.
Nationwide strike: NLC, TUC Lagos affiliates comply
Meanwhile, affiliates of the NLC and TUC in Lagos State, on Tuesday complied with the directive of the two labour unions to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.
The National Executive Council meeting of the labour unions, held on Nov. 13, 2023, in Abuja, had resolved to embark on the strike.
The decision was due to the alleged failure of the Federal Government to address issues affecting workers, such as the minimum wage, insecurity, corruption, and poor governance.
Also, both unions had made some demands, which the government had allegedly failed to address following the recent crisis in Imo that resulted in the alleged brutalisation of the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, and other members of the labour unions.
Meanwhile, the government on Nov. 13, warned both unions against embarking on their planned strike action, saying it would amount to contempt of court.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, in a statement, said the government had obtained a restraining order from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria barring the unions from going ahead with the strike.
Meanwhile, the Secretary General, Nigeria Union of Railway Workers, Mr Segun Esan, told NAN that the union was involved in the strike and no train was running as a result.
“In effect, therefore, all the workers of Nigerian Railway are duty-bound to join the nationwide strike action from zero-zero hour of Tuesday, 14th November, 2023 by staying back at home and away from their offices.
“All the offices, stations, workshops, and entire premises of the Corporation remain locked and inaccessible from zero-zero hour of Tuesday, 14th November, 2023, till otherwise directed by the Congress,” Esan said.
Also, the President, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions, Mr Oluwole Olusoji, said advice had been sent out to members on compliance.
He said that members had been advised to ensure the safeguard of lives and property from people who might be used to take undue advantage of the situation.
“We will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds,“ Olusoji said.