Bayelsa State Workers has joined their counterparts across the country to obey the directive of the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress on the declaration of indefinite strike over the failed minimum wage negotiation with the Federation Government.
Monitoring the excercise in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, our correspondent observed that there was total compliance as all the gates of Secretariat were under lock and key.
Other areas include, Banks, Federal Secretariat and other organs of government observed the strike, except Private Schools.
Speaking with via telephone, the state chairman of Trade Union Congress, comrade Laye Julius said it’s a total locked down in Bayelsa state.
Laye said they have gone round all the state Secretariats, agencies, Banks amongst other that there was total compliance. “In Bayelsa, it’s a total lockdown. We have gone round to make sure no offices open”.
Answering questions about some private schools that opened said, they will find out and if any is found disobeying the directive of the Labour Union on the industrial strike will be closed down.
Also speaking, the state secretary of the Nigerian Labour Congress, comrade John Angese said, workers complied reasonably. Saying they were at the state Secretariats where they monitored the excercise and barricaded the whole place to make sure workers did not go to work.
“His word, “we also barricaded the Nigeria Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to make sure nobody goes to work. Even at the federal Secretariat, we make sure people did not go to work. As far as am concerned, the compliance is good”.
Talking about the private schools he said, ” we didn’t pay much attention to the private schools especially for those who are writing their West Africa Examination Council. If we do anything to the contrary, we will only be endangering the future of our children. We have to consider the schools to that effect, otherwise we would have enforce total compliance even on the private schools”.
Talking about his expectations, Angese said until they get further directive from from the national, they will continue with the strike and the federal government to also wake up to their responsibility.
Meanwhile, the NDDC, s free medical earlier slated for Diete – Koki hospital received low turn out, as all efforts to speak to the organizers proved abortive, as there was no staff of NDDC on ground, it’s state office was under lock and key with placards pasted on their gate along Mbiama – Yenagoa road and MD of the hospital wasn’t available for her comments.
