-By Albert OGRAKA:
The Delta state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NUT), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) have enforced the stike order of the organized national labour body, in a bid to strenghten the union’s current negotiation with the Federal Government for increased minimum wage.
The organized labour had announced the commencemen of a nationwide warning strike in respect of the non implementation of the national minimum wage, effective from midnight of Wednesday, 26th September, 2018.
A statement signed by the General Secretary of the NLC, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, urged to all industrial unions and state councils under it to commence mobilization immediately for an effective strike action nationwide.
Delta state NLC Chairman, Comrade Jonathan Jemirieyigbe, on Thursday, September 27, 2018 told Blank NEWS Online that the Union is currently enforcing the warning strike across the state, adding that workers in both private and public offices are to abide by the strike order, as it affects all Nigerian workers.
In the meantime, most public offices and schools as well as few private institutions in Delta state are under lock and key because the organized Labour Unions have commenced picketing the private and public operational sectors.
According to him, “It is a total warning strike action embarked upon by the organized Labour Unions. Offices were locked up at 12:00 midnight and now we are moving around to ensure strict compliance to the seven day warning strike action.
Comrade Jemirieyigbe, who encourages the private sector workers to comply with the directive explained that “By virtue of the main minimum wage law, any employer than can employ above five persons is supposed to implement the law and they also stand to gain from the struggle.”
While calling for public support for the Unions, the sate NLC boss advised members of the public to remain calm and also join the organized Labour Unions in order to actualize the struggle.
Blank NEWS Online checks shows that workers who were obliviousness of the strike action were stranded discovering that offices were locked up and most public schools closed up with stranded students and pupils milling around the premises in several groups.
Some commercial institutions offered skeletal services with trepidation and anxiety, just as other commercial businesses and transactions were also affected, leading to a rising surge and grid in traffic in the early hours of the day.
