Bode Akinbode
The nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC),took a dramatic turn on Monday, as workers who defied directives of the national secretariat of the unions were chased out from various offices
The exercise was monitored by the leadership of the NLC, Comrade Kayode Martins and the Trade Union Congress,TUC, Comrade Bosun Olabiyi
However, federal government institutions such as the Federal Secretariat and the University College Hospital, gates and banks across the city, were shut as staff remained adamant in their commitment to the strike.
The strike, which is a response to a number of grievances in a stunning show of solidarity to directive of the national body of NLC against the federal government’s failure to implement the Minimum Wage demand by Federal Government, led by President Bola Tinubu, saw workers in the state bringing key government offices to a halt, causing major disruptions in the city.
Oodua News observed that the action is being supervised by armed security personnel to forestall any possible breakdown of law and order or possible hijack by miscreants.
While speaking with the NLC chairman in the state, Kayode Matins, described the federal government’s attitude as callous and apathetic, bemoaning their singular focus on irrelevant issues like reverting to the old national anthem while neglecting pressing economic issues that directly impact workers.
He noted that the government is clearly out of touch with the needs of its people and unwilling to listen to their concerns, driving the workers to take drastic action to make their voices heard.
He said: “The government’s attitude towards our plight is insensitive and uncaring. All they care about is reverting to the old national anthem when more important issues affecting the lives of Nigerians, especially workers, are begging for their attention. They are insensitive to the plight of workers.”
Matins lamented the worsening economic conditions faced by the masses, saying that: “The cost of living is unbearable. Prices of goods and services keep rising every day with no end in sight, while the government turns a blind eye. The people are suffering, and we can no longer sit idly by while they ignore our plight,” he said.
The NLC chairman in the state, however, said labour force will not back down in its struggle for justice, adding that the needs and interests of the Nigerian people must be given the attention they deserve.”
“We are prepared to stay the course, no matter how long it takes, to ensure that their voices are heard and their concerns addressed. The government must realiee that they cannot ignore the plight of the masses forever. The time for change is now, and we will not rest until that change is achieved.”
The State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Comrade Bosun Olabiyi, in his remarks on the strike action, said the union is committed to standing their ground on the face of adversity
“It is clear that the negotiations for a minimum wage increase have broken down,” he declared, “and organized labor unions have embarked on a nationwide strike as a result. The federal government must reconsider their position and give in to our demands.
“We, the workers, deserve to live in the same reality as the politicians who make decisions that affect our lives. Our wages must reflect the current economic climate, not a distant past that no longer exists. The time for action is now, and we will not back down until our voices are heard and our demands met.” he said.
