The Ebonyi State Judiciary, Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), banks, and ministries in Abakaliki were closed on Tuesday due to the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Reports indicate a 90% compliance with the strike, with many workers, including lawyers and bankers, stranded at the gate of the complex located at Water Works Road in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State.
The strike also disrupted business activities in the state, particularly for those trading inside the court premises. Additionally, academic activities at FUNAI and Ebonyi State University (EBSU) were affected by the strike.
Speaking to newsmen in Abakaliki, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Prof. Egwu Ogugua said: “So far so good, our compliance to the strike is ninety percent, the Ochi-Udo secretariat is scanty, the Ebonyi judiciary is under lock and key, the banks are not functioning. It’s only Zenith Bank that is open but they are not open to customers.
“What happened in Imo State, especially what is happening in Nigeria is bad. We have been pushed to the wall, we have been crushed. In fact, the ruling class no longer believes that we exist. It’s like anarchy has begun and that’s the situation we see ourselves in Nigeria,” he said.
Responding, the state secretary of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Ebonyi State chapter, JUSUN, Awoke Emmanuel said: “We are complying with the directive of the national body of NLC. The workers are here, but the court is under lock and key, no court sitting. No activities going on in the court” he stated.
A lawyer, Onwe Solomon who was stranded at the gate of the Ebonyi judiciary said, “The federal government should listen to the yearning of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and if the President of the NLC will be beaten with impunity and nothing is done about it, in fact, even the orchards will catch them up and rough handle them.
“Let them demonstrate that the Nigeria Labour Congress is in existence. Though I and my client are being affected, I don’t have any issue about it” he stated.
Another stranded worker, Ogboji Chinenye, an Assistant Chief Registrar in Ebonyi State judiciary said: “we are not happy that the national President of NLC is beaten up for defending us from the government. This is because we spend huge sums of money a day boarding taxis and Keke. The strike is on now because we are not happy that the President of NLC is being beaten mercilessly” she stated.
