Abuja, Ogun workers ignore NLC strike

Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja, Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta: Majority of the workers in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory and Abeokuta, Ogun State, ignored the nationwide strike declared by the Aliyu Wabba-led faction of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, as they resumed in their offices for work.

In Abuja, business activities have started picking up as vehicles were moving from the satellite towns to the city centre.

There is also free movement vehicles within the city as at the time of filing in this story.

Workers were seen resuming in their offices at the Federal Secretariat under very tight security. Officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were stationed at the gates of all the entrances to the buildings.

Also, public schools and petrol stations were opened for business.

The courts are also opened for business as checks at the Federal High Court premises, Central Area Abuja revealed. The Judges presiding over the different corruption cases are at their courts.

Also, the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT also continued the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki this morning.

Meanwhile, some members of NLC and their civil society affiliates are going round the city as at the time of filing this report to persuade workers to join the strike.

In Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the situation was the same as workers resumed at their offices while traders and commercial drivers went about their daily activities unmolested.

Schools, banks and other offices were opened for business.

Workers were also at their desks at the State Secretariat on Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

However, some officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state led by the Chairman, Comrade Akeem Ambali, took to the street, calling on workers to support the strike by going home.

At the state high court, the NLC officials forced traders to close their shops and join the protest but the traders resisted them.

Investigations in Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Ilese, Ijebu-Imushin, Ijebu-Ife, Itele, Ogbere, Abigi and Ibiade in Ogun Waterside showed that the schools were opened.

Similar situation obtained in Itori, Ewekoro, Papalanto, Ifo, Sango, Iju-Ota, Obere Ota, Iyana Igbesa, Owode, Oke-Odan, Ajilete, Ihunbo, Ilase, Idiroko, Ibatefin, Agosasa, Ipokia, Ifoyintedo and Tube. Schools were opened in these towns and students were in their classes.