By Ovie Okpare & Eseoghene Emuke
There was confusion in Asaba on Wednesday morning as members of the Delta State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) stormed public offices to enforce the now suspended indefinite strike over the non-implementation of the new minimum wage by the federal government.
It was gathered that most government offices in Asaba were shut down by leaders of the union.
This is coming despite the suspension of the strike by the national leadership of the body on Tuesday to enable its team continue discussion with the federal government delegation today (Wednesday).
NIGER DELTA TODAY observed that while the strike was enforce in Asaba, the state capital, public institutions in other parts of the state including Warri, Effurun, Ughelli, Sapele, Oghara were opened official activities.
One of our correspondents observed that students of public schools who had resumed for Wednesday’s academic activities were sent home as a result of the strike by the NLC leaders.
At the Federal Secretariat along the popular Okpanam road, there was mild-drama as some workers attempted to resist the labour leaders who were locking the entrance gate of the secretariat.
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One of the workers who protested the action of the unionists said, “We are not part of the strike because we did not get a directive from the national leadership of NLC.
“What is going on Delta is a state affair, but as you can see, they have already come here to picket this place even before the official time of resumption.
“The latest we heard about the meeting between federal government officials and labour leaders was that discussions on the minimum wage implementation was adjourned to today.
“So we are confused about this show by the state leadership of NLC. They should focus on state establishments and not federal agencies.”
It was also learnt that the gate of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and the two state secretariats for civil servants and other government offices were under lock and key.
However, private offices including banks opened for businesses as the state capital was not totally locked down.
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Meanwhile, the State Secretary of NLC, Innocent Ofoyeandi, confirmed the development, saying that they received directive from the national leadership to enforce the strike on public institutions across the state.
He confirmed the picketing of various establishments including both the public and private sectors to enforce the strike.
But in Effurun, Warri, Ughelli, Sapele and other major cities in the state, public and private institutions were opened for businesses.
One of our correspondents who visited some banks and schools in the areas observed that students were in their classes learning.
