General Strike takes effect in Osogbo, Osun State
As the general strike called upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) takes effect, it is reported that most public and private organizations in Osogbo, Osun State’s capital, have complied.
A check by our correspondent revealed that though shops and kiosks opened for businesses, gates of public primary and secondary schools were closed. Also, the gates of public health facilities were under lock as the usual crowd of patients were absent.
The labor organizations had declared an indefinite strike starting from Monday, June 3, 2024, following a breakdown in negotiations with the Federal Government over the minimum wage and other issues affecting the workers and the generality of Nigerians.
Private schools in Osogbo, however, operated as confirmed to **DAILY POST** by a school proprietress, Florence Ogunsola. She said, “The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) gave us the go-ahead to open our schools. NAPPS assured us of security, hence the continuation of our operations.”
Also, commercial transporters and operators of popular mini-buses, known as ‘Korope’, could be observed plying different routes. A resident, Olaitan Taiwo, expressed her indifference to the strike. “I am not a civil servant, so I have to hustle to take care of myself. As far as there is no violence in the town, I will be in my business place as usual,” she said.
Former Osun State Trade Union Congress (TUC) chairman, Adekola Adebowale, emphasized the role of strikes in labor activism, stating, “I believe strike is part of labor activism but it is the last weapon used to present one’s grievances to the government when it turns out to be anti-workers’ welfare. Members of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria shall surely comply with the directive.”
Ayodeji Ologun, the Convener of Transparency Accountability Group (TAG), echoed the sentiment, stating, “I think it is long overdue given the lackadaisical attitude of the government and their lack of readiness to do the needful. I hope the strike achieves that which it is set out to and hopefully too that the labor leaders don’t compromise the strike before it even starts.”
Emmanuel Olowu, the Osun State chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), highlighted the importance of addressing minimum wage and inflation issues in Nigeria. He said, “It should be noted that the new minimum wage in Nigeria will aggravate inflation due to the government’s failure to include provisions for the informal sector of the country. This neglect of the informal sector will consistently lead to inflationary pressures…”
