Labour Leaders Drive Out Ministry Of Finance Workers, Seal NASS, Wike’s Office
The organised labour on Monday drove out some staff members of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja during the monitoring and enforcement of the nationwide industrial action it declared to press home its demand for a new minimum wage and reversal of the electricity tariff increase.
Some of the workers who defied the directive given by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to down tools got more than what they bargained for as they were chased out of their offices by labour leaders.
It was gathered that some staff members of the ministry resumed their various duty posts on Monday morning, claiming that they were not aware of the directive given by the unions. However, the union leaders ordered all of them out of their offices and locked the main gate of the building.
The story was not different at the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation where the aggrieved workers hoisted their flags and occupied the main entrance, preventing people from gaining access to the building.
The labour leaders also sealed of the office of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Addressing journalists, the Chairman of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, Head of Service Chapter, Comrade Pius Onogu called on the Nigerian government to live up to its responsibility and accede to the demands of the workers.
When asked about the compliance of the strike action, Onogu described the strike as a success nationwide.
He vowed that the union would sustain the enforcement of the industrial action.
Ibom Focus earlier reported that aviation workers early Monday morning shut down the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, grounding flight operations.
Other affected places include the National Assembly, Office of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
Checks within the city centre revealed that the strike paralysed commercial activities as banks were locked.
The leadership of the National Assembly on Sunday stepped in at the last minute to avert the industrial action declared on Friday by organised labour but the discussion ended in a deadlock.
The industrial action has affected businesses and critical services across the country, including schools, hospitals and power supply.
