Nigerian workers on Monday downed tools across the nation as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) began their industrial action over the hike in electricity tariff and a lack of consensus on a new minimum wage.
Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), on Monday, locked out judges, lawyers, staff and litigants from accessing courts in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in compliance with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC)’s directive.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)’s check at the FCT High Court, Maitama; Federal High Court (FHC); Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, showed that court activities were totally paralysed as JUSUN members positioned themselves outside the heavily locked gates.
“Nobody is allowed in, even judges,” he said.
Danjuma-Yusuf said the gate would be opened when the union received a directive from the national headquarters of NLC.
NAN reports that the NLC and TUC had, on May 31, declared an indefinite strike, beginning from today, June 3.
The organised labour decided to embark on industrial action after the negotiations between them and the government over the minimum wage of workers was deadlock.
Airports shut
Activities were halted at airports across the country including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Lagos due to the ongoing industrial action.
At the Port Harcourt Airport, as early as 7:00 am, airport workers under the aegis of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) blocked access into the airport for vehicles.
This left passengers stranded, forcing some of them to come down from their vehicles and trek into the airport. However, flights haven’t been disrupted and there is a heavy security presence.
According to the Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals Emmanuel Akagha, the passengers are still being allowed into the airport because the road leading to the airport connects some communities. He, however, said there’s no checking-in or boarding allowed.
It was a similar situation in Lagos State as passengers. At the airport, some stranded passengers were captured with luggage in hand. The aviation unions locked the gate, denying staff and passengers access to the terminal
