The Kwara State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Murtala Olayinka said that a picketing committee was set up to ensure that no worker reports for duty as part of efforts to enforce the strike action directive of the NLC national secretariat
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He stated this on Tuesday in Ilorin, while speaking with newsmen during the nationwide industrial action.
According to him, the level of compliance with the NLC’s directive to workers to commence a strike action was commendable.
“The committee did a good job from the report reaching us from the field and we are satisfied with the level of compliance by our members.“
It was observed that all government offices, including ministries and agencies were completely shut down as workers in the state stayed away from their places of work as directed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
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At the Governor’s office in Ilorin which houses the offices of the Secretary to the state government and the Head of Service; and Ministry of Justice, a few workers reported for duty.
All public schools were also shut as both the teachers and students did not turn up for teaching and learning.
However, some commercial banks in Ilorin, the state capital open for operations and nobody disturbed them.
It was observed that electricity workers of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) at Challenge Business Unit of Ilorin closed the entry gate into the premises of the firm in compliance with the directive of both Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) arising from the attack on NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in Oweri, Imo State, a fortnight ago.
The organized labour, after a joint meeting of their National Executive Council (NEC), deplored the physical assault on the labour leader and demanded that the culprits be arrested and prosecuted.
However, a visit to Kwara State High Court, Ilorin on Tuesday revealed that entry and exit gates to the premises were locked against potential visitors.
It was observed that unlike the usual movement, the premises was somewhat deserted except for a few individuals sighted.
Many litigants got stranded having realized that proceedings would not hold in court because court staff under the banner of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) abstained from work.
The state NLC Secretariat known as Labour House, was also completely deserted.
Two police patrol vans were sighted in front of the High Court while men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were also seen in a patrol vehicle moving around parts of Ilorin to forestall a likely breakdown of law and order.
The organized labour embarked on the strike action in spite of the order of the National Industrial Court restraining it from the action.
The Nigerian Government through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had approached the court to stop the action of the labour due to its adverse effects on the nation.
