From Jude Dangwam, Jos; Attah Ede, Makurdi and David Torough, Abuja

 The Benue State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its counterpart, Trade Union Council  (TUC), Tuesday, joined the nationwide strike in compliance with the directives of the national body of the union.

Our correspondent who monitored the situation in Makurdi, the State capital, reported that both public and private primary and secondary schools, as well as tertiary institutions, shunned the strike and went ahead with normal school activities. It was observed that primary pupils and secondary schools went to school as early as 7.30AM but could not return home to indicate there was a strike as directed by NLC national leadership.It was further observed that teachers were seen all through in the schools.The strike could not completely affect operations in banks, hospitals, and other public places in the state as customers and patients were seen in those places undergoing one activity or the other.In a similar manner, the State Secretariat, which houses most of the ministries, was also opened following the commencement of the strike.Consequently, workers who were supposed to join in the strike reported to work in the morning. However, some of them were also seen returning home later.At the Federal University of Health Science Otukpo, prospective Students who applied for admission in the University were seen undertaking screening exercise preparatory for their admission into the institution. The strike however did not affect the general public activities in the state capital.Similarly NLC in Plateau State Chapter on Monday also joined their counterparts across the country on the nationwide industrial strike action embarked upon by the National body.The State Chairman of NLC Comrade Eugene Manji addressing Journalists at the entrance of J.D Gomwalk State Secretariat which was under lock and key said there was absolute compliance to the national directives.He noted that the industrial action was as a result of the manhandling of their leader Comrade Joe Ajero in Imo State while on official engagement to address the lingering issues between workers and the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma despites the demands presented to him and promised to look into, but failed to address them.”We met as NEC and looked at the situation of workers and decided let’s go to Imo and that was why we were in Imo. And then comes the manhandling of our leader,  that is why we are going on this nationwide strike.”You can see that the compliance of the national strike is absolute on the Plateau. The reason is simple, is because of the brutality meted on our leader the NLC President.” He statedThe State NLC Chairman reiterated that NLV struggles to curtail future occurrences, as Labour has lost confidence in the religious leaders and traditional rulers who were supposed to call the government to order.”We have lost out on the religious leaders who are supposed to defend us, we have lost out on the traditional rulers who are supposed to call these people to order. The only body standing to checkmate the excesses of this government is labour.”So, if there is no Labour then no masses can stand. Is not just about Ajero but is about the deliberate moves to silence Labour which has been the voice of the masses, and we will not be intimidated.”We are calling ourselves democratic government and then this is what you’re doing! Do we have democracy? we don’t have any! We are not against his government, but we are against injustice that has been meted against workers.”Labour is fighting for the injustice against workers and the masses of this country. We are the voice of the voiceless, all we are doing is to curtail the excesses of what is going to happen in the future and we are ready for government.”  he firmly stated.A visit to some commercial banks in the state capital also complied with the industrial action as customers were seen at a few ATM machines making some transactions.Also, our correspondent reported that  workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) also observed partial compliance to the directive by the organised labour to its members to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.The TUC and NLC had directed all affiliates to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.The strike was called to press home their demands, especially the “non comment  by the Federal Government over the  brutalising of  the NLC President, Joe Ajaero by security agents and hoodlums in Imo”.It would be recalled that the NLC had declared a protest in Imo, led by Ajaero on November 1, over alleged anti- workers policies by the state government.Ajaero was attacked and brutalised by security agents and hoodlums allegedly sent by the state government.It would be recalled that Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo and the Nigeria Police had refuted the allegation.It also be recalled that the National Industrial Court had restrained organised labour from embarking on the planned nationwide strike.It was however observed that at the Federal Secretariat, workers were seen going  about.Also, at the Area one old Secretariat, workers were also seen going in and out of the place.Commercial banks such as Guaranty, Union, First Bank , among other banks in Area 3 and 8 were opened for operation as some customers were seen going in and out of the place.It was also gathered that some schools were open and lessons were ongoing.Also, some workers who spoke with our correspondent said that the nationwide  indefinite strike was uncalled for.They said that people were already suffering and the economy was not friendly, adding with the indefinite strike it would increase the hardship on the people.The situation was similar in other states capitals including; Kaduna, Plateau, Ekiti, Ondo, Ebonyi, Enugu and Lagos.On the contrary, workers in Sokoto state on Tuesday defied the directives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), proceeding with their official duties in spite of the nationwide indefinite strike call.Routine operations  were conducted at the federal and state Ministries, banks, and schools.A classroom teacher, Malam Ismail Dayyabu, said that they were not served notice of the strike and they were only aware of a Court order restraining the union from striking.“We can do nothing but wait for proper communication. That’s why we went to work as usual, with no official engagements halted,” he explained.Similarly, a trader, Alhaji Bala Dankasuwa, said he was ignorant of any strike action, emphasising that their leaders had not communicated such a decision.Meanwhile, the NLC and TUC, Sokoto State chapters have assured their commitment to enforcing total compliance with the nationwide strike in the state.Mr Hamisu Hussain, the state NLC Secretary, acknowledged the delayed communication of the strike information to workers in the state.He explained, “Due to the delayed notice, many workers in banks and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) could not join the strike today.“However, I can assure you that by tomorrow, we will have total compliance as we have notified all of them. No excuse will be accepted,” he said.Mr Bello Garba, the state TUC Secretary, condemned the alleged assault on the NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, during the union’s rally in Imo.Garba warned that such incidents could recur nationwide, if not properly addressed, while assuring the strike will be enforced on all workers in the state.Also, workers in Taraba went about their normal schedules on Tuesday in defiance of an indefinite  nationwide strike called by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).Government offices in Jalingo were fully operational as civil servants reported for duty.A civil servant, Tanimu Musa,  said that the strike was counterproductive.Musa noted that the Federal and state governments had demonstrated their commitment to ameliorate hardships faced by workers and by the Nigerian masses.He said the Federal Government, for instance, provided palliatives and increased wages, while Taraba had also been paying the N30, 000 minimum wage.Another civil servant, Joel Yakubu, said, however that an NLC team was going round to enforce the strike order.“State workers are yet to receive their October salary which the governor ordered must be paid on the basis of the N30, 000 minimum wages.“The order delayed the October salary as fresh vouchers needed to be raised to reflect the wage increase.“It is arguable that shunning the strike is a decoy by Taraba workers so they would not extend the payday unnecessarily.The NLC and TUC called the strike to protest against the manhandling of the National President of the NLC Mr Joe Ajaero, by hoodlums in Owerri on November 1.The National Industrial Court of Nigeria on Friday restrained the labour unions from embarking on strike.President of the court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, ordered the nation’s two major labour unions to stop the industrial action.The interim order followed an ex-parte request by the Nigerian government through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).