Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Residents and workers in Ogun State, southwest,Nigeria this morning went about their normal businesses, snubbing the call by the Nigeria Labour Congress,NLC for a strike action today.
Schools, banks and other offices were open for businesses in Abeokuta.
An official of a new generation bank declared that bank workers are not part of those that are calling for the strike.
“At least,you can see for yourself that activities are going on here and other banks around here. Oke Ilewo is the economic nerve centre of Abeokuta, you can attest to it that normal activities are going on everywhere,no cause for alarm. We are not part of the strike and will be never be”, the banker insisted.
Civil servants were also at work at the State Secretariat,Oke Mosan,Abeokuta
However as was the pattern in Abuja and Lagos, chairman of the state NLC, Akeem Ambali led a protest march of union leaders in Abeokuta.
The protest,mainly by workers of the affiliated unions commenced from the NLC Secretariat, Abiola Way and moved through MKO Abiola stadium to Kuto Roundabout and down to Kuto Road and had a stop over at the State High Court,Isabo.
There was a mild drama at the High court area as the protesters forced shops and workers to join them in the protest. They were vehemently snubbed, with some people accusing them of fighting for their pockets and not the interest of the people.
Outside Abeokuta, both public and private schools in Sagamu, Ijebu Ode, Ilese,Ijebu Imushin,Ijebu Ife, Itele, Ogbere, Abigi and Ibiade in Ogun Waterside and other parts of the state were also open.
The association of private school proprietors had denounced the call by the NLC.
The State government had last week pleaded with the leadership of both the NLC and the TUC in the State in a meeting, not to join the strike action called upon by their national body.
At the meeting presided over by the State Deputy governor,Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Onanuga, the union leaders declared that would obey any directive from their national body, pledging that it won’t affect the smooth relationship between the State government and the Union in the State.
As at the time of filling this report,the NLC protesters were still marching around the town,carpeting the Federal government for its insensitivity about the plight of the masses.