ECONOMIC activities in Benin were paralysed on Monday following the indefinite nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Union (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that banks, federal establishments, state Ministries, Departments and Agencies did not open in compliance with the declared strike.
Air passengers were also observed stranded while the gate leading to the Benin Airport was under lock and key.
A statement by the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Osodeke, directed its branches nationwide to join the strike as an affiliate member of NLC.
In compliance, ASUU Chairman, University of Benin (UNIBEN), Mr Ray Chikogu, directed its members to join the strike.
“We have now received an official directive from our national secretariat to join the NLC indefinite nationwide strike over the failure of the Federal Government (FG) to conclude the upward review of the national minimum wage and reverse the hike in electricity tariff.
“We consequently direct all comrades at the ASUU UNIBEN branch to comply fully with immediate effect.
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“While the strike lasts, there shall be no teaching, supervision, conduct of any examination, attendance of board or senate meetings,” Chikogu said.
Also, ASUU chairman, Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Mr Cyril Onogbosele, told newsmen that the strike was total, adding that all academic activities had been grounded in the institution.
A visit to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) showed that some workers resumed work, while they waited for further directives from the various unions in the hospital.
Patients were, however, still being attended to at the time of the visit on Monday.
A few workers were also observed rendering skeletal services to some patients at the Edo Specialist Hospital.
According to the Edo Chairman of TUC, Comrade Peter Asemota, organised labour has many demands that have not been met.
Asemota ascribed the strike to the inability of the FG to meet the N495,000 minimum wage and review the hike in electricity tariff.
He noted that the union arrived at N495,000 due to the high cost of commodity prices and hardship in the country, saying that the FG was insisting on N60,000
He explained that the union had to obey the national directive in the state despite the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the state governor.
“We are in solidarity with the Edo State Government, but this is a national directive from the national and we have to comply,” he said. (NAN)
