Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Workers in Ebonyi State on Monday joined the nationwide strike declared by organised Labour.
It was observed that workers at the State Judiciary Complex opposite Old Government met a locked gate when they came to work this morning.
They were unable to gain entrance and after staying for sometime discussing the situation and reading the notices placed by their Unions on the gates, they started dispersing back to their homes.
At the former Ministry of Finance behind the Judiciary, Union Leaders were seen enforcing the strike by locking the gate.
At the Unity Square Secretariat, it was observe that workers of the federal agencies at the secretariat did not show up for work though the gate into the complex was open.
However, checks by Our Reporter showed that banks opened for business though they ran skeletal services.
A bank staff told Our Reporter that they did not receive any directives from their head offices and so had to open for business.
“Until we receive directives from our head office, we have to open for business. We can’t do otherwise to avoid disciplinary actions,” he said.
Some secondary schools visited in the morning had teachers and students in attendance.
Staff of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA) turned up for work as the hospital was busy when Our Reporter visited.
Medical workers were seen attending to patients at the Hospital until someone came into the Male Orthopedic Ward, rang a bell and announced: “All staff come outside. We have joined the strike.”
It was at that point that nurses and doctors who were dressing patients’ wounds, hurriedly rounded-off tending to patients.
“You can see we have joined the strike. So, what we are just doing now is to make sure that we take care of our patients before we are officially asked to join. So, during this period, you people would have to manage yourselves,” a nurse told this reporter.
A patient’s wife (name withheld) who didn’t know his wound would be dressed today was asked to immediately proceed to the Accounts Department to pay the N1,500 dressing fee.
But when she got to that unit (Accounts), she found that it was under lock.
Consequently, at the time of filing this report neither a nurse nor doctor was seen in the Ward as many of the workers had left back to their houses.
Mr Ogugua Egwu, Nigerian Labour Congress, Ebonyi Chapter Chairman, said the strike recorded 99 percent compliance.
He noted that workers of the schools were later dispersed by the organised Labour strike enforcement team.
According to him, workers in various offices both state and federal, who reported for work, were also dispersed.
He noted that the workers did not get the circular on time and hence had to turn up for work but when they saw the enforcement team, they had to leave their offices and return home.
