In Kaduna, Banks, Schools, Airport, Hospitals, others shut as NLC vows not to back down on Industrial action

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), had vowed not to retreat or surrender on the strike they began in Kaduna as the union commenced a five-day warning strike shutting down electricity supply, government schools and offices, banks, airport, train station.

The National President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba stated while addressing the gathering of various Labour unions at the Congress’ building in Kaduna.

Wabba explained that, they were aware that the first batch of the sacked workers from all the Local government councils of Kaduna was 5,000 while the second batch was 2000.

“We are also aware that in the Primary Health Care Development Agency, 1700 workers were sacked, there was exorbitant increment of tuition fees, among other uncalled actions in Ministries and Agencies in the State.

According to him, almost all the sacked workers from the various Ministries and Agencies of the State had converged at the NLC secretariats to confirm their sack.

The President assured members that the strike  would be fully complied with.

“Fuel stations, hospitals, banks, railway, airport, among others has been closed because we must take our destiny with our own hands if the situation in Kaduna and Nigeria at large cannot change”, he stressed.

“We cannot accept the bitter pills, we are here in Kaduna today because the labour law in Nigeria says before you can declare redundancy, labour shall be consulted and the Governor never did”. 

According to Wabba, “the Governor said he had consulted NULGE and they denied it as they are here with us now, we want to tell the World that a lot of information are false”.

He said the union has the right to protest peacefully without being intimidated or harassed, saying, the Governor should go after criminals, especially kidnappers and bandits terrorizing the state not workers who are earning their legitimate means.

The patients appealed to government to  end the strike actions by health workers who made it difficult for patients to survive.

On April 6, 2021, over 4000 staff across 23 local governments received their disengagement letters.