Another worker, Karim Ahmed said most civil servants were conscious not to fall into the trap of `no work, no pay’ as announced by the government.

On her part, Sarah Bijimi urged the NLC and Nigerians to be patient and support the Federal Government’s action, saying “with time things will get better.”

At the Barau Dikko General Hospital, health workers including doctors, nurses, laboratory staff were seen attending to out-patients and those on admission.

Jonathan Yohanna, a staff of the state Ministry of Health, said “we are not on strike, all our hospitals are functional and our officials are working.”

The State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, said it had deployed 600 personnel to guard strategic public installations in the state.

Mr Orndiir Tergungwe, the command’s spokesman said the move was to avoid breakdown of law and order during the period of the strike.

“We advise the residents to be law abiding and go about their normal business. We reassure the residents that their security will be guaranteed.”

A check at the Kaduna Central market indicated that traders have turned out for full business.

Yusuf Bala, a rice dealer, said “we don’t have confidence in NLC because at the end of every strike we don’t benefit from any relief.”

Maman Kobo, a Provision seller, advised the labour union to “ sit down and dialogue with government rather than embark on strike.”

Reports from Kebbi indicated that civil servants had also defied the NLC’s call for total strike action.

Government offices, markets, banks and business centres opened for normal business, while civil servants have reported to their places of work as early as 8:00am.

The Chairman of the state NLC, Murtala Usman, told NAN in a telephone interview that he was on his way to Birnin Kebbi from Abuja, and insisted that the strike would hold.

According to him, the NLC will assemble workers by 10:00 am at the Labour House before embarking on the strike.