Business and commercial activities in Kaduna state came to a standstill Monday as the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) commenced its five-day warning strike to protest the sack of 4,000 workers by Governor Nasir el-Rufai.
The five-day warning strike by the NLC and its affiliate unions as well as associations, which was also to forestall further sack of workers by the state government, saw the state thrown into complete darkness since Saturday as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) switched off the 33kva injection sub-station serving the state at Mando.
Impact of the total blackout was further felt by the citizens, as supply of fuel to Kaduna state was cut off, leaving filling stations in Kaduna to close shop and join the strike as residents seeking fuel for their generators were left at the mercy of black market operators who now sell fuel at exorbitant rates to make good profit while the strike lasts.
Activities at the Kaduna International Airport were also in a lull as the airport was under lock and key since Monday morning with no plane taking off or landing at the airport.
The Rigasa train station terminal serving the Abuja – Kaduna trains and passengers also took time off as no train came to the station, while none left as well.
There were threats to the labour movement that the strike would not be effective because private sector workers would not join, but that became a ruse as all the commercial banks visited by our correspondents in Kaduna were locked up due to the industrial action.
Though immediate past president of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Comrade Najim Yasin was one of the labour leaders that led the labour protest to the state House of Assembly from the NLC state secretariat, taxi and commercial bus drivers were still going about their businesses without let or hindrance.
NLC calls for calm
Meanwhile, the state NLC chairman, Comrade Ayuba Suleiman Magaji urged “residents of the state to remain calm and peaceful throughout the five-day warning strike period. We are assuring the Kaduna state workers and the general public of our commitment to maintain peaceful strike action.”
He said while they were misled to commend the state government over the N30,000 minimum wage, “the government reverted to old minimum wage of N18, 000 in the month of April, 2021 salary in the local government council, about 20, 000 state civil servants received half salary which is even less than the former N18, 000 minimum wage.
“Health workers were denied almost all their allowances such as hazard, call duty, shifting, rural posting. Kaduna state government on the basis of their claim that it had paid up to N14 billion as arrears of death benefit and gratuity from 2017, but the fact is that the same government disengaged over 35, 000 civil servants in 2017 and up to date over 80 percent have not received their retirement benefits.
“The state government in its ignorance failed to realize the obvious fact that payments of salaries have multiplying effects on the social – welfare and economy. When salaries are paid they reflect down the line. The unfortunate downsizing of work force in Kaduna state was not done in accordance with the statutory Labour Law, with keen examination of its activities from 2017 till date, over 50,000 workers were affected.”
“Over 21,000 teachers were sacked, 5,000 local government workers were equally disengaged in 2017, while another 12,000 state civil servants were also unfairly disengaged and the recent sacking of over 7,000 workers of local government in the month of April, 2021. These lay credence to the figure given by the NLC.”
No going back-Wabba
Addressing the workers during the protest, NLC President Ayuba Wabba said the 5-day warning strike and protest would blossom to a national strike if the situation was left unaddressed.
He said: “Workers are not slaves and so cannot be treated as such by the El-Rufai-led government in Kaduna state.”
Wabba also said all the affiliates of the congress from electricity to petroleum, railway, aviation, banks and others have complied totally by shutting down all their facilities.
He stressed that despite the fact that Kaduna state government generated highest internal revenue in the North, it has the least workers and has continued to retrench without due recourse to constitution.
“This is just the beginning; tomorrow we will make sure that the number of our members on the road are more than this. We are complying fully with the constitution and we are fully aware of the COVID-19 protocol and complying,” he said.
The workers were seen with placards with various inscriptions such as “Hell Rufai, Security of lives and people, primary purpose of governance, Respect workers right , Pay living wage, Yes to decent work, yes to minimum wage, yes to pension and social protection, no mass sack, no to non-payment of salaries and pension.“
Speaking at the state House of Assembly, Comrade Wabba said the warning strike is a decision of the highest body of labour.
“The decision has been communicated to all security agencies of government. It is the beginning of struggle of labour, hope our politicians will cooperate with us to ensure we protect our democracy by delivering its dividends to the citizens, including workers.
“More than 90 per cent of Nigerians are living in abject poverty and that is why insecurity and other social vices have increased in the country,” he said.
The labour leader lamented that workers in the state were being sacked from their jobs without following the due process, adding that no constituted labour union was contacted by Governor El-Rufai before taking the action.
“It is only in Kaduna state out of the other states in the country that workers are thrown out of their jobs without any regards to the labour law and that is why we are here,” he said.
While saying political elites are elected to respect the law of the land and uphold the provisions of the land, the governor stated : “Here we have a governor that is not respecting the law but violating the law with impunity. He has sacked thousands of workers in the state. Over 20,000 workers in the state have not been paid their April salary.
“After sacking workers from their jobs, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has gone ahead to increase the school fees thereby sending students away from school as their parents could not afford the new school fees.”
No going back –KDSG
And amidst the massive protest, the El-Rufai administration insisted no going back on rightsizing of the state’s workforce.
While dismissing the strike and street protests as an attempt by labour union leaders to sabotage its policy, the government said the first day of the strike had not affected government operations.
The state’s Head of Service, Hajia Bara’atu Mohammed, stated this at a media parley in Kaduna Monday after a brief state executive council meeting.
“What is happening in Kaduna is not an industrial action but a campaign of social and economic sabotage.
“Kaduna State government is functioning despite the illegal attempt to block our offices, hospitals and schools. The schools are opened, our offices are opened, the hospitals are opened.
“NLC are aware that inflicting pains on citizens by locking hospitals and shutting down electricity will not change the decision of Kaduna State government to right-size and will not change our intention to use the Trade Union Act which prohibits strike by extension service workers,” the HoS said.
Mrs Mohammed also said during a visit to her office Monday, the leadership of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) promised not to be part of the strike.
FILLER
12 die in A/Ibom auto crashes in 4 months- FRSC (4)
By Uko Etim
Uyo
The Sector Commander Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Akwa Ibom command, Mr Matthew Olonisaye, has said 12 persons were killed in road crashes across the state between January and April 2021.
Olonisaye stated this while briefing newsmen to mark the 6th United Nations Global Road Safety Week on Monday in Uyo.
Our correspondent reports that the 6th UN Global Road Safety Week commences from May 17 to 23 with the theme; “Street for Life.”
Olonisaye said the theme calls for 30km/h speed limits to be the acceptable speed limit for vehicles to build up areas such as cities, towns and villages.
The sector commander said excessive speeding was the major cause of road traffic crashes across the country and added that the corps has put in place several measures to ensure reduction of speed related crashes.
“The United Nations Road Safety Week is biennial global campaign hosted by WHO through the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/60/5 and was first held in 2007.
“This event brings together individuals from around the world to raise awareness of road safety and make changes that will reduce the rate of deaths and injuries from traffic crashes.
“Everyone is enjoined to ensure complete eradication of road traffic crash by ensuring discipline on the road and also adhering to road traffic rules and regulations,” Olonisaye said.
He called on all road users in the state to maintain discipline and adhere to road traffic rules and regulations to reduce crashes.
He said the command recorded seven fatal crashes, 29 were injured and 12 unfortunately lost their lives in the crashes.
The sector commander added that the following junctions in the state; Urua Ekpa, Ibiakpan, Ikpe Annang and Shelter Afrique were prone to road crashes in the state.
He warned motorists and all road users to be more cautious while approaching those areas to avoid road traffic crashes.
