Strike grounds Nigeria: Crude oil export stops - Oil workers withdraw from export terminals - Workers shut airports, ports closed - Secretariats nationwide deserted - Nationwide strike continues today From Akin Durodola, Gboyega Adeoye, Shola Adekola, Dele Aderibigbe, Dolapo Okunniga, Soji
Thursday, June 21, 2007

AS the nationwide strike began yesterday, banks, schools, airports and other public institutions were shut in various parts of the country in compliance with the labour directive to protest against the increase in prices of petroleum products.

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Activities in those areas were grounded while normal economic and social activities were paralysed. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja and Lagos, the nation’s commercial nerve centre, were not spared as the strike was about 75 per cent successful.

The labour, among other demands, is protesting the non-implementation of the 15 per cent salary increase, 100 per cent increase in VAT, sale of refineries and Egbin power station.

But in spite of the Federal Government’s concession of N5.00 reduction in the price of petrol, implementation of the 15 per cent salary increase from January and suspension of VAT, the labour yesterday embarked on the indefinite strike.

As a result, banks, schools and government secretariats and other public institutions were shut.

Flight operations at both the international and local wings of the Murtala Muhammed Airport were yesterday grounded through its aviation union bodies.

Prior to the presence of the aviation unions, comprising the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and Nigerian Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) at the airport, some of the local and foreign carriers were able to operate their early morning flights unhindered.

The story, however, changed when the union leaders, who came in a convoy of about to 15 vehicles, arrived at the airport to effect the strike order, cordoning off the entire terminals at the local wing of the airport and forcing the workers who had sneaked to work to join in the strike.

At about 10.00 a.m., local airlines like Arik, Bellview, Chanchangi and Aero operated some flights while at the international wing, British Airways and Kenya Airways operated their own flights.

However, their Ethiopian and Virgin Atlantic counterparts could not operate as they put notices at their counters that there were no flights.

At the local wing, following the arrival of the union leaders, the local operators closed shop.

NUATE, in a circular earlier sent to all its branches nationwide, had warned all aviation workers to stay off their duty posts.

The circular, signed by the union’s acting general secretary, Comrade Gideon Ogbuji, stated; “All staff in the aviation industry are hereby directed to stay at home till further notice. Please note that anyone who violates this directive does so at his or her own risk.”

It was the same story at the aviation agencies as their offices were deserted as a result of the inability of the workers to find their way to work.

Management officers reported, but without much impact. All major banks shut their doors to customers in Abuja. All public and private schools were also shut as students who had earlier reported for classes were asked to go home.

Armed policemen, officers of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and FRSC were stationed in strategic positions to maintain the peace.

Security was heavy at the federal secretariat which was locked and the few people that were allowed in were properly screened.

At the entrance of the Ministry of Education, a security officer said: “Nobody is in the office. Nigeria is on strike and not the staff.” Security staff in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation shut the gates and would not allow newsmen into the office.

Commercial mini-buses, taxis and private vehicles that came out carried green leaves in solidarity with organised labour while members of the NURTW joined the strike.

The National President of the union, Alhaji Gidado Hamman, told NAN that “the strike is total and the green buses that are operating belonged to self-employed drivers.”

Also, senior staff association in the oil industry – the Petroleum and Natural Resources Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) – has withdrawn its members from crude export terminals to intensify the strike.

The order to withdraw their services means that Nigeria may not be able to export crude oil until after the end of the strike.

Oil exports have so far been undisturbed by the general strike because unions have allowed staff of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), which regulates the industry, to remain at the terminals to oversee the loading of tankers.

The directive was issued after a meeting of the senior staff umbrella union body, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), in Lagos on Wednesday.

“Between now and 12 midnight, we will withdraw our members from all DPR locations, including oil export terminals,” Mohammed Saidu, PENGASSAN branch chairman in the DPR, told Reuters after a meeting of the TUC in Lagos.

Activities at the National Assembly were yesterday paralysed following the nationwide strike by labour unions.

Only a few assembly staff reported for work, while none of its principal officers was around when the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) visited.

Security was beefed up at the main entrance to the complex with men of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) patrolling the area with police dogs.

However, some banks situated within the complex were seen operating skeleton services for the few customers that visited. A staff of one of the old generation banks, who asked not to be named, said that the bank was open essentially to attend to those patronising its public offer.

“Not only here, but in all our branches, we do business through the back door, principally to entertain customers that want to buy our shares in the ongoing public offer,’’ she said.

Ports in Lagos State on Wednesday were closed to all business as a result of the nationwide strike.

Many traders, however, defied the strike call as several stalls and shops in various Lagos markets opened for business, though they claimed recording very poor sales.

The gates of the ports, particularly the Lagos ports Complex, Apapa, the RoRo and the Tin Can Island Ports (TCIP), were locked, while armed policemen complemented ports security guards to provide security.

A police guard at the TCIP told the Nigerian Tribune that the gates were locked to prevent potential troublemakers from gaining entry. Civil servants in Oyo State yesterday complied with the directive to go on strike as the state secretariat became a ghost of itself.

Except for a few senior officials who reported for work at the governor’s office, other workers who reported for work returned home almost immediately.

There was vehicular movement in and outside the secretariat and on all the major roads in Ibadan metropolis.

Also, there was supply and sale of fuel to motorists by most of the filling stations though at the rate of between N85.00 and N120.00 per litre.

There was free flow of commercial vehicles in the town while the people went about their normal business.

However, the strike did not affect Wednesday’s screening of commissioners designate as they appeared before the seven-man ad hoc screening committee of the state House of Assembly.

In Ibadan, Oyo State capital, the courts were locked as judiciary workers also took part the ongoing nationwide strike.

At Iyaganku High Court and Magistrates’ Courts, workers met the gates locked and were forced to return home to observe the strike. A judiciary worker who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity said they were ordered back home by a senior officer of the court.

However, at the High Court Complex, the election petition tribunal continued sitting while other courts were locked. Yesterday, the tribunal held a special conference with some lawyers and their clients and some witnesses to iron out certain issues before the commencement of trial.

Meanwhile, the organised labour and civil society coalition said on Wednesday that the general strike and mass protests against the fuel price increase would continue until the Federal Government returns the price of petrol to N65 per litre.

Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, who addressed a press conference to assess the first day of the strike, expressed satisfaction at the success of the strike, saying that the organised labour and its civil society groups had been compelled to shut down workplaces and business where workers had been forced to report for duty against the directive of the NLC and their unions.

He said the strike was monitored in the Federal Capital Territory and the 36 states and commended the generality of Nigerians for heeding to the call of the organised labour and its partner to embark on the strike to put pressure on the government to revert the price to N65.

Omar call on Nigerians that there are still battle ahead and that the strike and protests continue, adding that they must all stand firm and endure the sacrifice and sustain the strike.

According to a statement entitled: “The General Strike Continues” and read by the NLC President: “For the avoidance of doubt, the general strike and mass protests continue tomorrow. As we had earlier announced, the strike would be indefinite until the Federal Government returns the price of petrol to N65. The monitoring and compliance would also continue to ensure that all workplaces are shut down. Workers and other Nigerians are urged to set up and operate compliance squads all over the country.”