By Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State judiciary, Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, FUNAI, banks and ministries at the centinary city Abakaliki, were on Tuesday shutdown to observe the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.
i-Turning reports there was ninety percent compliance to the strike, as great number of workers, including lawyers and bankers were seen stranded at the gate of judiciary, and banks located at water works road Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State.
It was gathered that the strike paralyzed
business activities in the state, especially those who trade inside the court premises, so also, students at FUNAI, and Ebonyi state University, EBSU were affected by the strike.
Speaking to newsmen in Abakaliki, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Prof. Egwu Ogugua said: “So far so good, our compliance to the strike is ninety percent, the Ochi-Udo secretariat is scanty, the Ebonyi judiciary is under lock and key, the banks are not functioning. It’s only Zenith bank that is open but they are not open to customers.
“What happened in Imo State, especially what is happening in Nigeria is bad. We have been pushed to the wall, we have been crushed. infact, the ruling class no longer believe that we exist. It’s like anarchy has began and that’s the situation we see our selves in Nigeria” he stated.
Responding, the state secretary of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Ebonyi State chapter, JUSUN, Awoke Emmanuel said: “we are complying with the directive of the national body of NLC. The workers are here, but the court is under lock and key, no court sitting. No activities going on in the court” he stated.
A lawyer, Mr. Onwe Solomon who was stranded at the gate of the Ebonyi judiciary said: “The federal government should listen to the yearning of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC. And if the President of NLC will be beaten with impunity and nothing is done about it, infact, even the orchards will catch them up and rough handle them. Let them demonstrate that the Nigeria Labour Congress is in existence. Though I and my client are being affected, but I don’t have any issue about it” he stated.
Another, Mrs. Ogboji Chinenye, an Assistant Chief Registrar in Ebonyi state judiciary said: “we are not happy that the national President of NLC is beaten up for defending us from the government. This is because we spend huge some of money in a day boarding taxi and Keke. The strike is on now because we are not happy that the President of NLC is beaten mercilessly” she stated.
