Commercial and Business activities in Abakalik the Ebonyi State capital were paralysed on Tuesday, as banks, courts shut down their gates, in compliance to the nation-wide indefinite strike action embarked upon by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).
In a similar vein, the State Chairman of NLC Comrade Ogugua Egwu has expressed regret that the ruling class no longer believes in the people.
During a visit to the State High Court Abakaliki, the entrance gates were barricaded by officials of the Judicial Union Staff of Nigeria (JUSUN) .
In an interview, Comrade Ogugua Egwu commended workers in the State for their resilience and support.
“The Federal government should listen to the yearnings of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), we have been pushed to the wall, the ruling class no longer believe in the people,
“The moment the ruling stops believing and fearing the people that they rule, that means anarchy has begun”
“So far so good, I can say that we are 90 percent compliance, the Secretariat is scanty, the banks are locked, the judiciary are not functioning”
“We are happy that the people are understanding that, they are willing to come together to make their strong committed voice”
“We need to make a strong statement that will stand the test of time, by the grace of God, an injury to one is an injury to all, what happened in Imo State speaks volume on every body,
Leading a team of enforcers at the entrance gate of the State High Court Abakaliki, the Assistant Secretary Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ebonyi State Branch Comrade Awoke Emmanuel, said that that Chapter was complying with the directive of the NLC and TUC.
“There is no court sitting, there is no activity going on in the court, because of our faith and belief in the powers of NLC, and the right of the workers”.
“As an affiliate of NLC, we have to live by the principles of the Union Laws, even the workers are here having the enthusiasm to do their work, but we can not violate the laws of NLC”
Reacting on the issue, a legal practictioner Barrister Onwe S Onwe, said that the judiciary was not against the strike action.
‘Assuming without conceding that the judiciary was against the strike, I don’t think the gates would be locked, the consent were sought and obtained”
“If this is the only option we have to take in order to drive home the message, there is need to drive it, every body is suffering it,
“We are in a democratic era, I don’t know whether we are practising democracy or autocracy, which one are we practising, the NLC is the nucleus of the country”
At the Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, the offices were locked, even the students are not around, ”
It would be recalled that the industrial action was organized by organized labour comprising NLC and TUC, in protest over the silence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government over the recent brutalisation of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe Ajaero in Imo State.
Labour earlier demanded that President Tinubu Government, should bring the perpetrators that brutalized Comrade Joe Ajero to justice to serve as deterrent to others.
The NLC and TUC at an Emergency National Executive Council Meeting (NEC) in Abuja, vowed that the strike remains indefinite until government meets the demands of the workers.
