Commercial activities in the nation’s capital of Abuja was
on Wednesday shut down following the ongoing protest by the Nigerian Labour
Congress, NLC, over the removal of fuel subsidy and its attendant effect on the
pump price of the product.
Though workers in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, were
not very sure whether the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, would live up to their
threat of shutting down the nation in protest of the fuel hike, DAILY POST
correspondent who went round the city observed that commercial activities at
the city Centre, especially around the Beggar roundabout, Wuse axis and Central
area were at their lowest ebb.
Our correspondent observed that the ever busy Federal
Secretariat witnessed minimal activities as only few workers were seen walking
in and out of their offices. Few of the workers who were obviously afraid of
been harassed by labour leaders were seen peeping through their office windows
not to be taken unawares by labour compliant officers.
At the popular Wuse market, some customers were hurriedly
buying food stuff. One of the traders told DAILY POST that there was need to
stock one’s house with foodstuff as the present government was doggedly
stubborn. The trader who identified herself as Aisha said ‘’
This government is doggedly stubborn, so I doubt they will
reach any compromise with labour leaders. I need to stock my house so we don’t
run out of food stuff.’’
At the Beggar roundabout, it was a total shutdown. Traffic
was at a standstill, and commuters were stranded as protesters blocked every
part of the road. It took the intervention of security operatives and Road
Safety officers before the gridlock eased off.
DAILY POST also observed that many workers who went to their
office on Wednesday morning following threat of no work- no pay by the federal
government returned home after information got to them of the ongoing labour
protest.
A man who identified himself simply as Daniel, told DAILY
POST at the Federal Secretariat thus: ‘’ I don’t think that threat of ‘no work-no
pay’ will work. This is not the first time we are hearing this. Nothing is
happening in these offices, so the earlier I leave for home, the better for
me,’’ he said.
Source: Daily Post
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