June 3, (THEWILL)- Academic activities from universities, commercial Banks, civil service and markets in Benue, have been paralysed following the commencement of an indefinite strike announced by the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress.
When our correspondent visited Benue State University and Joseph Sarwuan Tarka campuses in Makurdi, there were empty lecture halls with no official position from authorities over the closure.
Also affected were commercial Banks as customers were served monies through Automated Teller Machines (ATM). At the same time, motorcycle riders were busy playing routes, just as the Federal and Benue State Civil Service Secretariats were lucked.
At the time of the visit, construction work at the high-level underpasses was ongoing, and while drinking joints like Shaka located at Kenville Park high-level Makurdi, fun seekers were seen taking cow tale pepper soup and alcohol.
However, people in essential duties such as journalists, nurses, and nursery schools were operating.
Speaking on the level of compliance, the NLC chairperson in Benue, Comrade Terungwa Igbe, and that of TUC, Comrade Gideon Akaa, in a statement, said the directive is a result of the failure of the Nigerian state to do the needful.
“The federal government failed to agree on a new national minimum wage, and subsequently, passed it into law before the end of 31st May 2024. Reverse the hike in electricity tariff without consulting the stakeholders as required by the law to N225/kwh back to N66/kwh, and stop the apartheid categorisation of Nigeria electricity consumers into bands”.
The statement added that the Benue State Council of the two Labour centres directs all affiliated unions to adhere to the directives until further notice.
At the time of filing this report, security agents were seen patrolling the streets of Makurdi to prevent any eventuality.
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