Reports compiled by ABDULLAHI D. ABDULLAHI
Group News Editor
YESTERDAY�S nationwide sit-at-home strike over the recent increase of
prices in petroleum products had appeared to be a success as government
offices, banks and public hospitals were seen closed down in almost all
states.
In most of the states, reports indicated that the strike
action had made a great impact because workers had responded positively to
the directive by the apex labour body, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
that they should down tools from Monday to Thursday, in protest over the
increase of fuel prices which is fifth of its kind since the return to civil
rule in 1999.
Our Katsina state correspondent, Bala Abubakar
reports that government offices, schools, banks and hospitals were deserted
by workers.
At the Katsina General Hospital, doctors and nurses were
virtually absent as only few staff were seen carrying out skeletal services.
Customers were also seen stranded outside banks premises
while commuters at motor parks were also stranded for lack of vehicles to
convey them to their different destinations.
While the police had provided tight security around the
metropolis and important places, workers at the federal secretariat complex
failed to comply, as they were seen attending to their official engagements.
The state NLC chairman, Comrade Muhammad Omar Bakori was
no where to be found for comments.
From Dutse, Jigawa state, our correspondent Mu�awuya
Bala Idris reports that business activities and government work were
grounded even as doctors and nurses abandoned patients at government-owned
hospitals.
Our correspondent however, reports that senior civil
servants who are by law required to report to work were loitering around as
only few permanent secretaries reported to work. Economic activities were
also paralysed in the state capital as markets remained closed while few
shops opened to customers in the town.
In Gusau, Zamfara state capital, Farouk A. Yakasai
reports that the strike was not that effective because only banks and
government offices where closed. However, normal businesses of the day were
being conducted by the people at markets and other places. The situation was
the same in Sokoto and Kebbi states.
Reports monitored on BBC Hausa Service yesterday,
indicated that in Bauchi, only officials of the Red Cross Society were at
hand at Bauchi General Hospital to attend to patients as doctors nurses and
other medical staff were not on duty.
According to an official of the Red Cross, since Sunday
night an emergency response team was assigned responsibilities to take care
of the wards.
The BBC also reported that the strike was also
successful in Gombe and many states in the North.
In Kaduna, it was reported that a stray bullet by the
police killed a 12-year old Muhammad Sani at Tudun Wada when youths in the
area burnt tyres.
The father of the boy, Malam Hamisu Idris told the BBC
that young Sani was only passing when the bullet hit him. However, the
state police command said it will issue a statement on the matter later in
the day.
Down South, unlike in the past, there have been free
movements of cars around Lagos roads as was no usual traffic jam was
recorded. According to reports, the police dispersed some youths who
attempted to burn tyres and a possible demonstration by the Lagos state
University students.
In Enugu and Abia states, workers had heeded the NLC�s
directive. According to reports, activities were not conducted as usual
around the towns.
However, one common feature of the strike was that in every state, police
had mounted tight security to avert any unrest, eventhough no serious cases
of break out of law and order around the country were reported.
