Strike: Businesses, Govt. Offices Remain Shut

Business premises and government offices on Tuesday remained shut in Gombe, as the strike over the removal of fuel subsidy entered its second day.

It was observed at the Bauchi Road Motor Park in Gombe that commercial vehicles were not operating, most business outfits remained under lock while a few vehicles and motorcycles were seen plying the roads .

Armed mobile policemen and other security men were deployed to strategic places, such as banks, offices and roundabouts to contain any outbreak of violence.

The NLC Chairman in the state, Comrade Ahmed Maisakala, told NAN that the union and other stakeholders would meet to appraise Monday’s protest before taking the next step.

In Dutse, business activities remained comatose with banks, shops, motor parks and markets closed.

The streets of the state capital were also deserted as only a few private vehicles were seen plying the roads.

Security agents, such as police and officers of the Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Road Safety Commission were deployed to all parts of the town.

From Enugu State, the Head of Service, Mr. Dennis Eze, led a team of government officials to open offices locked by labour leaders in the state’s secretariat.

NAN reports that there was heavy presence of security operatives, who came to the secretariat to stop a rally by labour leaders.

NAN further reports that labour leaders came to the secretariat to mobilise workers to a new venue for the rally truncated by the presence of security operatives.

Meanwhile, shops and markets opened for normal business, while commercial vehicles plied the roads unhindered.

Commercial banks also opened for business with bank officials attending to customers discretely.

In Port Harcourt, organised labour led protesters on a march to the government house to submit a protest letter, while government offices, banks and schools remained closed.

However, some petrol stations were selling fuel, while markets were opened and artisans were seen going about their normal businesses.

Security was tight around government offices as well as oil and power installations, but the situation remained generally peaceful.

In Yola, government offices and banks remained closed, but markets and petrol stations and other businesses were opened.