Students and pupils of public schools in Osogbo, Osun State capital, were sent home on Tuesday following the nationwide strike declared by the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observed that students of several public primary and secondary schools were seen on the roads and streets, returning home.
At CAC Secondary School, Gbodofon, Osogbo, the gate was left wide open as students left the school premises while some teachers were seen 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 few opened for business transactions.
Many offices of the state secretariat in Abere were deserted and few workers were seen entering and moving inside the secretariat.
A staff member at the secretariat, who spoke to NAN under anonymity, said the strike had not yet taken shape, and that if it were like the previous national strikes, the doors of the secretariat would have been closed with members of the NLC and other unions blocking the doors.
Security personnel were seen stationed at the entrance of the secretariat as well as at some strategic locations in Osogbo.
Modupeola Oyedele, acting chairperson of the Osun State NLC, told NAN that the strike complied with the directive of the NLC and TUC headquarters.
“No to street protests”
Mrs Oyedele said the instruction given to her members was to stay away from work and that there would be no form of street protest.
“We are not making a street protest with the strike. The instruction is for workers to refrain from working and we are complying.
“Public schools have returned their students in compliance with the strike.
“Many sent their students back this morning because the strike directive came late last night, which is why the students were turned away after arriving at school.
“We are ensuring that it is enforced, as our officials are at the secretary of state’s office to ensure that workers do not return to their offices,” he said.
NAN reports that the unions on Monday night ordered their members and affiliates to withdraw their services from Tuesday (today), a move the government considers illegal.
READ ALSO: Imo attack: NLC and TUC to start national strike at midnight
Nigeria’s main unions, the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), had declared strike, following the brutality suffered by the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, in Imo State on November 1 . Ajaero was attacked in Owerri, the state capital, during an NLC protest against the Imo State government over alleged mistreatment of workers in the state.
(YAYA)
