The Kano State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC has joined the nationwide strike in compliance with the directives of the national body of the union.
A correspondent of The PUNCH who monitored the situation in Kano reports that primary and secondary schools, as well as tertiary institutions, have also joined the strike.
It was observed that primary and day secondary school pupils who went to school as early as 7.30 am were compelled to return home as they did not meet teachers in the schools.
It was gathered that the strike has also affected operations in banks, hospitals, and other public places in the state.
Similarly, the Audu Bako State Secretariat, which houses most of the ministries, was also closed following the commencement of the strike, even though some workers who were not aware of the strike reported to work in the morning but had to return home later.
Students in Bayero University Kano who are currently sitting for their first semester examination are also affected by the strike as a number of them who went to the examination halls had to return to their respective hostels.
“Many students who were to sit for exams in the morning returned to their hostels disappointed because they could not see anybody in the examination halls,” a female student told The PUNCH.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Ministry of Education has suspended the 2023 Secondary Schools Qualifying Examination scheduled to take place today, until further notice.
A statement signed by the Director of Public Enlightenment of the Ministry, Balarabe Kiru, revealed that the suspension is compelled by the industrial action embarked upon by the NLC and TUC nationwide.
The statement, however, appealed to the people concerned, especially students and parents or guardians, to bear with any inconvenience that may be caused by the suspension.
…. Students sent home, banks locked in Osogbo
Also in Oshogbo,the Osun state capital,students in public schools were sent home on Tuesday following the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observed that students from various public primary and secondary schools were seen on the roads, heading back home.
At CAC Grammar School, Gbodofon, Osogbo, the gate was left wide open as students moved out of the school premises while some teachers gathered under a tree, holding discussions.
Similarly, some banks in Osogbo refused to open their doors to customers, while others were skeptical about opening, and a few were open for business transactions.
Most offices at the state secretariat in Abere were deserted, with few workers observed going into and moving about within the secretariat.
A staffer of the secretariat, who spoke to NAN under anonymity, said the strike has not started taking shape and that if it were like the previous nationwide strikes, the gates to the secretariat would have been shut with members of the NLC and other labour unions blocking the gates.
Security personnel were seen stationed at the secretariat entrance, and likewise at some strategic locations in Osogbo.
Mrs Modupeola Oyedele, Osun State NLC Caretaker Chairperson, told NAN that the strike complies with the directive from the NLC and TUC headquarters.
Oyedele said the instruction to their members was to stay away from work and that there would not be any form of street protest.
“We are not doing street protests with the strike. The instruction is for workers to abstain from work, and we are complying.
“Public schools have sent back their students in compliance with the strike.
“Many sent their students back this morning because the strike directive came late last night, so that is why students were turned back after getting to school.
“We are ensuring that there is compliance as our officials are at the state secretariat to ensure workers do not resume in their offices,” she said.
NAN reports that the labour unions on Monday evening directed their members and affiliates to withdraw their services starting from Tuesday (today), a move the government terms illegal. (NAN)
