Workers shut down Bauchi over non-payment of salaries

Schools and government offices at both local and state levels were sealed up yesterday as civil servants in Bauchi State paralysed all government activities in the state.

The indefinite strike followed non-payment of salaries and other entitlements of workers.

The state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Tuesday declared the strike with effect from yesterday, to press home their demand for the payment of their backlog of salary arrears, among others.

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, yesterday sealed off the  Bauchi State office of the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, in reaction to the alleged plan to sack 1,000 workers of the commission.

National Chairman of  ASCSN, Mohammed  Suma  who reacted to the planned sack of the workers accused the Director General of NIMC, Chris Onyemenam of deliberately flouting the court process in respect to the 1,000 senior employees who were from grade level 7 and above.

However, investigations in Bauchi metropolis showed that the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Teachers Service Commission, TSC, the state civil secretariat as well as the state Water Board were closed just as public primary and secondary schools were under lock and key, making it impossible for thousands of  pupils to go to school.

The state-owned  media outfits complied with the strike, but were providing skeletal services.

As early as 7am, the NLC, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, as well as the JPSNC   leaders were at the schools and council secretariats to ensure that workers complied with the directive by the unions asking them to embark on an indefinite strike.

Some students who were not aware of the development, went to schools only to sent back home by the authorities.

Principal officers of the councils, including chairmen, secretaries and directors, were not allowed access into the secretariats by the union leaders.

Reacting to the development,the state NLC Chairman, Hashimu Gital commended the workers in the state for complying with the directive and urged them to stay at home until further directive from the union. - Vanguard.