Commercial banks and government owned-institutions were grounded on Thursday, in Abia State following the national strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, over the failure of federal government to implement the new minimum wage.
The NLC, DAILY POST reports had directed all workers across the country to embark on a one-week warning strike with effect from today.
Our correspondent, who went round Umuahia, the state capital on Thursday reports that Ecobank, FCMB located at Akanu Ibiam road, shut down their activities in compliance with the directive by the labour union .
A security man, who claimed to be Chief Security Officer at Ecobank, when approached by our reporter, said, “We are not opening today, because of the NLC strike. But, our customers can only withdraw money at the ATM”
At the State High Court located along Ikot Ekpene road, Umuahia, the main entrance gate were under lock and key.
Lawyers and their clients were seen standing in front of the court main entrance gate.
A legal practitioner, who gave his name as Mr. Uzoma Nwaigwe, said the exercise stopped the hearing of a case involving one of his clients.
“I came to represent my client who have been in detention for over three weeks, he supposed to be charged to court today so that he can regain his freedom.
“But unfortunately, this court is on strike and the police had no option than to take him back to the cell”.
“I heard that the NLC is on strike and the association of Judxiary workers complied with the industrial strike”.
Also, primary and secondary school pupils and students in government-owned schools in Umuahia were seen returning home as at 9:30am Thursday morning.
A student of Ibeku High School in Umuahia, identified as Master Emmanuel Uko, who spoke with DAILY POST at the school gate said, “There is nothing happening in school. Teachers are not in school because of the strike”.
“We were asked to go home till they call off the strike”.
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