The warning strike embarked upon by the labour movement in Nigeria, under the supervision of the Nigeria Labour Congress recorded overwhelming success, as government offices, banks and some private concerns were closed for business, on Thursday.
Banks in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital had opened earlier in the day for business but later shut their doors to customers as the day progressed.
Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Ekiti State, Mr Raymond Adesanmi, stated that the labour unions had to intervene when some of them failed to comply.
Adesanmi said that union officials had to intervene by forcing the workers to close down because not all of them earlier complied.
In Lagos and many other states across Nigeria, the strike also recorded tremendous success as many government offices were closed down
Labour had directed all workers across the country to embark on a one week warning strike with effect from today.
In Ibadan, the state capital of Oyo State, some commercial banks in the ancient city also shut down their activities in compliance with the directive by the labour union.
Both the federal secretariat located at Ikolaba area and the Agodi state secretariat were deserted by the workers when our correspondent visited the secretariats as gates of the secretariats were locked.
A security operative in one of the banks told journalists that customers could only use the ATMs, saying that activities in the banking hall had been shut down in compliance with the warning strike.
It was, however, gathered that some commercial banks and petrol stations across the metropolis went on with their normal duties.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, had expressed surprise that the union still went ahead with the industrial action while the union leaders were still on deliberation table.
He noted that the demand for an increase in the minimum wage of civil servants, the kernel of the agitation, could only be amicably resolved when the states and other stakeholders that would bear the end results are adequately carried along
He however appealed to the NLC leaders to call off the strike tomorrow so that negotiation can continue in earnest
