Strike Day 2: Public schools shut down in Enugu

As the Nigerian Labour Congress-led  nationwide strike over the hike in petrol price  enters the second day, public primary and post primary schools in Enugu were Thursday shut down as their  teachers  joined the industrial action. Contrary to Wednesday when workers in Enugu refused to observe the strike , the industrial action picked up on […]

As the Nigerian Labour Congress-led  nationwide strike over the hike in petrol price  enters the second day, public primary and post primary schools in Enugu were Thursday shut down as their  teachers  joined the industrial action.

Contrary to Wednesday when workers in Enugu refused to observe the strike , the industrial action picked up on its second day  (Thursday) as pupils and students were asked to leave in compliance with the  NLC directive that workers should embark on an indefinite strike in protest against the hike in fuel pump price of N145.

It was observed that all the state government-owned schools including tertiary institutions such as  the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, and College of Education (Technical), Enugu were closed down.

However, the State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Virginus Nwobodo led other labour leaders as early as 7.oo am to various institutions, ministries and parastatals to enforce the directives from the national headquarters of the NLC.

Also, both new generation and old generation banks on Agbani Road and Okpara Avenue attended to customers through the back doors in compliance with the NLC directive. The banks used chains to close their entry points while opening their back doors to customers.

Briefing newsmen during their picketing at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC), the state chairman of the NLC, expressed satisfaction that workers obeyed the union’s directive, adding that the strike over 90 percent successful in the state.

Nwobodo said: "You can see for yourself that all the schools owned by government are shut down. The teachers got the directives from us and they obeyed. No academic activity is going on today and it  will continue indefinitely, I do not want to join issues with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) members on why they did not join the strike. All I know is that strike has commenced in Enugu State as directed and it is successful", he added.End