Banks, government-owned hospital and courts in Ondo State on Monday complied with the industrial action called by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, over the demand for a new minimum wage.
Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, MDAs, were shut with no sign of civil servants insight along the Alagbaka axis of the metropolis where government offices are situated.
At the Federal Secretariat, Igbatoro Road, it was the same situation as the vast edifice turned into a ghost town over the indefinite strike action.
Speaking on the development, the chairman of the Ondo State NLC, Victor Amoko, who stated that both the public and private sectors were effectively shut down in the state, stressed: “We are receiving reports about the affiliated unions, and they are doing well, even though the strike has only just begun. We are making good progress as all schools are closed down.
“We have made a good start. If you go out there, you will find that the majority of our public and private offices are closed, and there is no work happening.”
On his part, the TUC chairman in the state, Clement Fatuase, explained that the level of compliance in both the public and private sectors in the state was encouraging.
While urging members to unite in the fight for the betterment of workers, Fatuase stated that the union’s discussions with the state government, particularly regarding the exemption of WAEC and INEC officials, should not be seen as a compromise but as a consideration of their proposed timetable to complete their tasks.