DAY 1: NATIONWIDE STRIKE IN NIGERIA

The organised labour made good its warning of a nationwide strike action from today, Thursday September 27 2018 if negotiationover the national minimum wage was not restarted.

According to various reports from different parts of the country, most affected were government offices, banks and schools especially the public ones.

Abuja, we understand, the strike was total and the Federal Secretariat was a ghost town, banks were closed and only transport vehicles were keeping Abuja moving.

In Lagos the strike was effective too as far as government offices and facilities were concerted. Alausa, the Lagos state secretariat, we understand was also shut down but most banks closed their doors and selectively allowed few customers in to transact business.

At Sango in Ogun state, just next door to Lagos, only one bank risked opening its doors for business and customers freely went in and out.

The rest closed their doors but again selective allowed some customers in sometimes, some bank staff went in with fully signed cheques to cash for known customers.

Meanwhile the ATMs were crowded with people battling to cash money, many of whom did not even know a strike was called or were too busy at the market to act.

Milling at the front of many of the banks were customers with worry all over their faces pleading with security men to allow them because they have no ATM cards and used to cash over the counter.

At Benin, in Edo State, we understand one or two banks opened their doors for business but like for other places, behind shut office doors bank staff were in and awaiting developments.

At Yola, the story was the same and we understand the Yola Electticity Distribution company was open and selling units to customers but may shut down after a week if the strike continues.

At Osun state, we hear that the state council was exempted from the strike day 1 because of the rerun election on today to conclude the governorship elections held and declared inconclusive by the electoral body last Saturday.

In most of the places, public institutions like hospitals were closed, and private ones open.

The Lagos transport companies were in operation apparently because they are on franchise to private companies but around 12 noon we hear, that workers started picketing commuters at always busy Iyana Ipaja hub along the Lagos Abeokuta Expressway.

Public schools were shut and pupils and students turned home since until late yesterday none was 100% sure if the strike will go ahead.

The government and organised labour had reportedly engaged in last minute talks to save the situation but even this broke down late in the day.

The organised labour led by the National Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress had reviewed reports of their representatives at the tripartite committee set up to negotiate and fix the minimum and decided not much has been achieved.

The review was on September 18 and it was decided that once the ultimatum given to government on the matter expires on Wednesday September 26, the strike will begin 12 mid night same day.