Activities at Ebonyi State High Court, banks, and various offices in the state have ground to a halt due to the strike initiated by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).
The organized labor’s decision to strike is a direct response to the assault and brutality suffered by NLC President Joe Ajaero in Owerri, Imo State, on Nov. 1, serving as a form of protest against the incident.
Observing the situation on Tuesday, a NAN Correspondent visiting Ebonyi High Court in Abakaliki reported a securely locked gate, with judiciary workers stranded outside the court premises.
In a statement to newsmen, Mr. Emmanuel Awoke, Secretary of the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), explained that the strike was a necessary response to protest against injustice faced by workers across the country.
Awoke reported that he was in the office by 7:30 am, ensuring that no judge or magistrate could enter the court premises.
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‘As you can see, the main gate is already locked and nobody is allowed to walk inside. This is in compliance with the National directive in support of the nationwide strike.’
‘JUSUN as an affiliate of NLC has to live by the principles of the union’s laws and directives. As it stands, there are no court that is sitting. The workers are here to do their work but we cannot allow them to violate the law of the NLC,’ Awoke stated.
Lawyer Onwe Solomon admitted the disturbance caused to his case in court by the strike but affirmed that the action was a necessary step in the right direction.
‘My matter is one that requires urgent attention but on getting here this morning, I found out that nobody is allowed to go inside the court because of the strike.’
‘I believe, they are fighting for their right and the good interest of the nation. The situation in the country today is worrisome, especially the assault on the NLC National President. It is uncalled for,’ Solomon said.
Mr. Uchenna Elom, a bank customer, commended the decision to strike and urged both the federal and state governments to take measures to safeguard the rights and interests of workers.
He shared that he was at the bank to acquire a new Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card but noticed that they were closed.
The ATM machines in several banks, including First Bank, Ecobank, UBA, Union, and others, checked in the capital city, were in full operation, attracting long queues of customers.
Responding to the situation, Dr. Egwu Ogugua, NLC Chairman in Ebonyi, reported that the adherence to the strike reached 90 per cent in the state.
‘All banks are closed, except Zenith bank but they later closed. You know injury to one is injury to all. The ruling class should stop intimidating the Nigerian workers,’ he stated.