There was total compliance with the nationwide strike in Asaba, Delta State as workers shut down all government offices, public schools, hospitals, banks, and others over the unresolved issue of the minimum wage.
Gates to various government offices in Asaba were locked on Sunday night, and some recalcitrant workers who sneaked into their offices were chased out by Labour’s compliance and enforcement team to ensure total compliance.
Policemen were deployed to strategic locations in the state capital.
However, doctors and officers at Federal Medical Centre Asaba who are on Salary Grade Level 15 and above were on duty attending to patients.
According to the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Victor Osiatuma, their focus was on emergency cases and patients on admission.
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Delta State had earlier stormed the State Secretariat on Mariam Babangida Way, the Federal Secretariat and State Assembly Complex on Okpanam Road, and other offices in the state as early as 7 am to make sure that the buildings were still and under lock and key.
The striking workers also stormed government-owned media houses but met the staff rendering skeletal services.
The State NLC chairman, Mr Goodluck Ofobruku, told journalists that the money workers are demanding is realistic if only the federal government is serious.
“We have decided to withdraw our services; we proposed N494. What has the government done? The only newspaper allowance for a senator is N1.2 million a month.
“They said N60,000; can 60,000 pay for a bed-seater? Can it transport workers to work? They should be serious with negotiation,” he explained.
Also, the leader of the organised Labour Compliance/Enforcement Team and TUC Chairman Delta State Chapter, Mr Martin Bolum, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance in the state.
“We had locked all the gates to offices at midnight, and this morning we are going around to enforce it.
“Some people who sneaked into their office, we chased them out. We visited banks, hospitals, and other places to effect the strike,” he added.
