Employees of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in Oyo State have gone on an indefinite strike.
The decision of the workers is in compliance with the directive by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, who ordered all workers and affiliated bodies to embark on the strike.
The President, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, NIMC Branch, Mr Lucky Michael, said the decision to join the industrial action became necessary due to the exposure of the staff to COVID-19 risks, lack of personal protective equipment, irregularities in promotion and poor funding among other issues.
When Voice of Nigeria visited the NIMC office inside the Agodi State Secretariat, as well as the one inside the Ibadan North Local Government Area Secretariat, Agodi Gate, Ibadan, it was observed that although some of the workers were seen in the office, they did not attend to members of the public who came for registration.
Many prospective enrollees who came for the exercise were disappointed at the news with many lamenting the hardship they had to go through to make out time for the exercise.
Those who were, perhaps, not aware of the strike action were seen hanging around with the hope that they would be attended to by the NIMC staff while some others turned back immediately they were informed of the strike action.
The Oyo State Coordinator of NIMC, Mr Olusola Sotayo, while confirming the development on the indefinite strike action, lamented the poor allowances and working conditions especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, assuring that all the staff of the NIMC in Oyo State did report to their various offices, as usual, but would not work.
“The Union directed the staff. It is an issue that has to do with the ministry, management and government. It is a directive from the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria. We are in the office and all staff are at work just that they are not working,” Sotayo stated.
Emmanuel Ukoh
