Organized Labour strike grounds business activities in Edo

Commercial activities in public and financial institutions across Edo State were grounded on Monday following the nationwide industrial action by Organised Labour over the failure of the federal government to conclude the negotiations of minimum wage for Nigerian workers in the country.

Newspot reports that banks, federal establishments, state ministries, departments and agencies and the Benin Airport were under lock and key in compliance with the strike organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC directives.

A visit to the Benin Airport saw air passengers stranded while the gate leading to the Airport was under lock and key.

However, filling stations opened for business, selling petroleum products to members of the public.

Educational institutions such as the University of Benin, UNIBEN and the Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma also joined the strike.

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At the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, some medical personnel were on duty while some non-medical and health personnel joined the strike.

Speaking with newsmen, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, University of Benin, UNIBEN, chapter, Ray Chikogu said the body joined the strike in compliance with the directives of the national body.

Chikogu, said a statement by the President of ASUU, Emmanuel Osadeke directed its branches nationwide to join the strike as an affiliate member of NLC.

“We have now received an official directive from our National Secretariat to join the NLC indefinite nationwide strike over the failure of the federal government to conclude the upward review of the National Minimum Wage and reverse the hike in electricity tariff.

“We consequently direct all comrades at the ASUU UNIBEN Branch to comply fully with immediate effect.

“While the strike lasts, there shall be no teaching, supervision, conduct of any examination, attendance of board or senate meetings,” he said.

Also, the Ambrose Alli University (AAU) ASUU Chairman, Cyril Onogbosele said the strike was total.

Onogbosele added that all academic activities have been grounded in the institution.

A visit to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) showed that some workers resumed work waiting for further directives from their various unions in the hospital.

Patients were still being attended to at the time of the visit.

Also at the Edo State Children’s Hospital, few workers were seen rendering skeletal services to the few patients in the hospital.

However, the Edo Specialist Hospital was fully opened for patients.

The Chairman of the Edo chapter of the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Peter Asemota, said organized labour has many demands that have not been met.

Asemota explained that the strike action was a result of the inability of the federal government to meet the N495,000 minimum wage and the hike in electricity tariff.

He added that the union arrived at N495,000 due to the high cost of living and hardship in the country, noting that the federal government was insisting on N60,000

He explained that the union was obeying directives from the national body, despite the Edo State Governor already implementing a N70 000 minimum wage for its workers.

The TUC Chairman, described the strike as total in the state as the organised labour is on strike.

“We are in solidarity with the Edo State government but this is a national directive from the nation and we have to comply”, he said.