Niger NLC shuts down offices, schools as indefinite strike action begins

Following the indefinite strike action embarked upon by the Niger state civil servants on Wednesday, February 21, students were sent back home, court proceedings were suspended, and offices remained closed with locked doors and gates.

Going round some of the government offices and public schools, The Nation observed that they were all under lock and key while workers who were still hanging around said that the NLC officials went round at 8 am to lock the gates.

“They sent everyone out, especially those who were already in office. Others who had not resumed met the gates locked when they arrived at the office”, one of the workers at the Niger state Secretariat told the reporter.

Students who stayed in the hostel of the College of Education, Minna were sent home as the gates of the institution were shut by the enforcement team of the NLC.

The Niger State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had on Monday announced that the workers would be embarking on an indefinite strike action following a deadlock in negotiations with the Niger State Government Committee.

The union said that the government failed to address their demands in a previous ultimatum letter.

The announcement of the strike was signed by Niger State NLC Chairman, Comrade Idrees Lafene, and the state Chairman of TUC, Comrade Ibrahim Gana.

The letter stated that the strike would start from 8 am on Wednesday, February 21, until their demands are comprehensively met.

The Nation learnt that the Labour leaders shunned a meeting for dialogue called by the Niger state government to avert the strike action.

A statement by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman on Tuesday expressed its readiness to dialogue and amicably address demands of labour in the best interest of the State.

The government had called for a meeting on Tuesday at 2pm, but it was learnt that no Labor leaders showed up.