Barely few hours the national body of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), private institutions embark on the seven-day warning strike, some commercial banks in Ebonyi State were seen rendering some skeleton services while some were seen close from services.
Also, Tribune Online gathered that many government offices visited including cabinet office, courts, and other offices were under lock and key and government house civil servants were also seen living the government house premises to their houses except those in very essential duties.
Also, school children were also seen littering the streets going back from school.
In an interview with some of the civil servants including Mr Ogbonna and others who chose to remain anonymous, said they have no choice than to join the strike since it is a directive from the national body of the NLC.
Moreover, they noted that the governor has directed them to join their colleagues in observing the strike if it was called.
When Tribune Online visited the courts, it was discovered that all the courts gate were under lock and key and when engaged in an interview with some persons who clustered the state High Court, Magistrate, and Industrial Court gates, Tribune Online gathered that families who came to pick their wards who have spent some years, months, at there court were left disappointed.
According to a woman who out of pains refuses to disclose her name said: “I am tired and frustrated. I have been praying for over five months, my husband was arrested and sent to prison because he borrowed money and was unable to remit it at the expected time and luckily, yesterday, he was granted bail.
“I and my children were so happy that at last, he will come back to us. All preparation to release him was made for the Chief Judge to sign and free my husband except one… only to hear that the NLC were on strike.
She called on the federal government to attend to the civil servants by paying them the minimum wage they seek for and reducing psychological trauma among its citizens they will still expect to vote for them.
According to the NLC chairman Ebonyi State, Comrade Leonard Nkah, in astatement issued after its meeting in Abakaliki over the strike, promised that its chapter of the union will mobilise workers to ensure full compliance to the strike.
He further assured that the state government will implement the N48,000 national minimum wage if approved for workers across the country.
The statement reads: ”Labour in Ebonyi state is in tandem with the organised labour of National Secretariat of NLC and TUC and by midnight we will send our bulletin. Throughout tomorrow, we will be ending our bulletin.
“We have given a directive to various unions to mobilize their members for the strike action. The industrial action is to put pressure on the government towards the agreement reached on the National Minimum wage for workers in the country.
“So, we are in an agreement with the national leadership’s directive for the industrial action and it will be effective in the state because workers have always crave for enhanced salary package.
“We will join the industrial action; we will ensure we follow it up. We will also ensure that the agreement reached in Abuja will be implemented here in the state.
“Our Governor has said it including yesterday’s meeting with us that he will pay whatever salary structure reached in the agreement over new national minimum wage,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state TUC Chairman Mike Nwonu, said his union will also join the strike.
“It will be total striking because we must submit to our National leadership. We received a signal from our National leadership; NLC and TUC and today after our meeting, we have resolved to join our colleagues across the country by joining the strike action of which our bulletin is ready for circulation.
“We have also informed other affiliate unions for necessary action and we are to monitor it with every machinery,” he said.
Recall that Governor Umahi yesterday directed that if the national body of NLC calls for workers strike, workers in Ebonyi should join.
Chairman NLC leonard Nkah and TUC chairman Mike Nwonu addressing Journalist.
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