14th November, 2023
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday was a complete flop in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
Lagos State Government workers shunned the strike as the government secretariat was fully open. Workers trooped in early in the morning until the close of work.
All banks in the Lagos metropolis were fully open for work as they attended to customers. Banks such as Sterling Bank, Access Bank, GTB, UBA, Union Bank, among others, were opened to customers.
Companies in the metropolis were all open for work. There was no sign that the NLC and TUC were on strike.
Commercial activities in Lagos were at the peak, commercial vehicles, markets, shopping malls and others were all opened for work on Tuesday.
However, the Maritime workers shut down Lagos Ports in compliance with the organized labour union’s directive for a nationwide indefinite strike.
This is in protest against the “physical attack and brutalisation” of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero.
Mr Festus Osifo, President of Trade Union Congress(TUC), at a joint news conference with the NLC on Monday in Abuja said the two Labour unions had resolved to stand firmly by the decision of their joint National Executive Councils (NECs) that was held last week Tuesday.
He said “Effective from midnight on 14 November, we shall declare a nationwide strike. All affiliates of the TUC and NLC, and all state councils of the two unions have been mobilised adequately.
“This will be indefinite until governments at all levels wake up to their responsibilities. This is the decision of the joint NEC of NLC and TUC and we are going to carry it out to the letter.”
The TUC president, however, noted that for the Labour unions to suspend their strike, the government must investigate the issues surrounding the attack on Ajaero.