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		Daily Independent Fuel strike grounds activities nationwide � NLC says protest continues, asks police to enforce N38 per litre order � Oando, Conoil pledge compliance once court order is received By Tokunbo Oloruntola, Chuks Isiwu, Charles Okonji, Bimbo Kesington (Lagos) Bassey Udo and Gbenga Abiodun (Abuja)   Economic activities in both the public and private sectors were paralysed nationwide on Wednesday as millions of Nigerians stayed at home in response to a call by Labour for a crippling strike to compel the government to revert petrol price from over N50 to N38 per litre. The work to rule, organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in defiance of an order of an Abuja Federal High Court, was peaceful except in Abeokuta, the hometown of President Olusegun Obasanjo. There, five protesting students were allegedly shot by armed policemen. In Lagos, the General Secretary of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Femi Aborisade, was briefly held by operatives of the State Security Services (SSS); whisked away from the premises of the Lagos State Television where he had fielded questions on a live radio and television programme. Angry workers enforcing the strike in Kogi State locked out the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and the deputy governor from their offices in Lokoja. A similar fate befell the secretary to the Rivers State Government, commissioners and members of the state legislature. The impact of the strike was more felt in Lagos, the nation�s economic capital, with its public and private sectors virtually shut down. Banks, filing stations, markets, as well as Federal and Lagos State Government offices in the metropolis and environs were closed as workers did not turn up. The usually congested streets were also deserted by commuters and vehicles alike. The few people who ventured out of their homes were either stranded or resorted to trekking as commercial vehicle operators withdrew their services. At the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja skeletal services were noticed in the early hours of Wednesday with flights by Bellview Airlines to Abuja and Port Harcourt. Hundreds of armed policemen deployed to strategic areas of the metropolis were idle as workers stayed indoors. In Abuja, the country�s political capital, the strike was partially successful as some filling stations opened for business later Wednesday when marketers realised that Labour leaders were not enforcing the strike. But all government offices and banks were closed to business despite the heavy presence of armed policemen on patrol. The protest was effective in Kwara, Enugu, Abia, Niger, Kaduna, Kano, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Kogi, Jigawa,� Kano and Imo States. Partial compliance was recorded in Borno, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Oyo, Cross River and Osun States. Surprisingly, the strike was partially observed in Edo State, home state of NLC President Adams Oshiomhole, as some Federal Government ministries and parastatals opened for business in Benin City, the capital. Besides, commercial transport operators belonging to the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) failed to join the action. Meanwhile, some of state governments, including Edo and Zamfara have asked their striking civil servants to report for duty on Thursday. Sounding tough, Zamfara State Information Commissioner Ibrahim Danmalila warned that workers who refused to report for duty on Thursday would forfeit their June salary. The reverse is the case in Edo State where Head of Service Abraham Umagbos told newsmen on Wednesday in Benin City that none of the workers who stayed away from would be penalised. He urged them to return to work. In pressing ahead with the strike, NLC on Wednesday accused the government of non-compliance with the court order to revert to the pre-hike fuel prices. Oshiomhole told newsmen in Abuja after he monitored filling stations around the Federal Capital territory (FCT) and environs that nothing had changed as most of them either sold at the previous prices or closed shop. He said the mass action achieved about 85 per cent success nationally, except in Sokoto State. Said Oshiomhole: �We were optimistic, after listening to the minister of labour on Tuesday that the government would comply with the court order to revert to the former price levels. But, we are sad to observe that nothing has changed. We have gone round the FCT. �We found out that only two stations have effected the changes � NNPC mega station and AP in the Central District. In both stations, we are convinced that these were not what the prices were before the increases. �There is still a material difference of about N1.50 per litre between the reduced prices and what they ought to be. This does not represent a full compliance with the court order, which they assured Nigerians that they will obey�. Against that background, Oshiomhole on Wednesday wrote to Police Inspector General (IG) Tafa Balogun to enforce the government�s directive to marketers to revert to the old prices. In any case, the marketers have given their word to revert to the pre-May rates once they receive the official court order. Said spokesperson of Oando, Ms Tokunbo Durosaro: "There is a court ruling and we have to obey it. We are ready to revert to the old prices. But, right now, we are not selling at those prices because our stations are not open. People are afraid to go and sell. We will revert to the old prices when the situation returns to normal�. A top official of Conoil, who pleaded anonymity, also confirmed the readiness of the marketers to revert to the old prices whenever the official notification is received. In similar vein, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) said on Wednesday that it has no choice but to abide by the court ruling. It has ordered the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to enforce the decision on marketers. Information and National Orientation Minister Chukwuemeka Chikelu who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the weekly meeting in Abuja, presided over by Vice President Atiku Abubakar, said any filling station which flouts the order will be penalised.
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