NLC strike action: Bauchi workers comply

AS the nationwide total strike action declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) began, NLC leaders in Bauchi State went round all establishments particularly government offices to ensure compliance with the directives forcing workers who had turned up for work to go back home and lock up the offices.

At the Abubakar Umar State Secretariat and the Federal Secretariat, officials of NLC were seen at the gates turning back all civil servants who came for work while only political appointees and security personnel were allowed in briefly.

At the government-owned radio and television stations, Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC), Globe FM (FRCN), Bauchi State Television (BATV) and Nigeria Television Station (NTA) only senior management staff were seen on duty running skeletal services in order to keep the public informed.

Checks, however, revealed that some commercial banks opened for business while others did not, saying that they were still awaiting directives from the NUBIFE on the direction the banks are to take regarding the strike action.

The officials of the NLC simply said that they were only carrying out the directives of the National Secretariat of the NLC and so can not say any other thing when asked to comment on the strike action.

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However, the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP), Bauchi chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has said that it will not join the ‎nationwide strike called by the NLC and TUC.

Disclosing this while addressing Journalists in his office, ASUP Chapter Chairman of the ‎Polytechnic, Comrade Bala Mohammed Yakubu said the Union was not properly briefed by the NLC and TUC on the planned strike.

He argued that although they are aware of the development‎, they have not been adequately convinced as to whether going on strike is the best option for the organised labour.

It will be recalled that the organized labour unions consisting of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Bauchi State disclosed that they will join the nationwide strike which commences on Thursday as directed by the National headquarters of the two unions.

This was disclosed ‎by the NLC chairman in Bauchi State, Comrade Hashimu Gital, at a press conference in Bauchi on Wednesday.

He said that they have decided as organised labour to embark on the strike to push for the demands of Nigerian workers ‎on the new minimum wage and better welfare.

Gital informed that the organised labour in the State will embark on the nationwide indefinite strike from 12 am on Thursday and therefore urged all affiliates of the union to commence the strike action as directed.

On his part, the TUC chairman, Bauchi State Council, Comrade Mohammed Usman, said the organised union will ‎continue to push for better working conditions and welfare of the Nigerian workers.