As the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, proposed nationwide warning strike kicked off today, streets and businesses in some areas of the Osun State capital, Osogbo, have been deserted.
It was observed that the some business owners did not open their businesses for the day, and residents were indoors.
However, at Owode-Ede market on the outskirts of Osogbo, traders and commercial transporters were observed going about their normal trading activities.
Commercial minibuses, known as Korope, were moving about conveying commuters to their destinations.
At the time of this report, the state civil servants were unsure if they would be going to work or not.
Bolanle Bamitale, a civil servant, said she was doubtful about the strike.
She revealed that the organised labour in the state had kept mum on the development.
“I am still indoors. I don’t know whether to go out or stay indoors. I have called several of my colleagues and they too are unsure of any strike,” she said.
However, a trader, Tope Abdulgafar, said she would open her shop since she is not a member of the labour union.
“I will open my shop now. I don’t have any business with the strike. I am not part of labour. If I want to survive, I must open my business every day,” she said.
It was also observed that the main gate of the Osun State Government Secretariat, Abere, was open.
The Chairman of the Association of Civil Servants of Nigeria, Osun chapter, Adekola Adebowale, said civil servants in the state are not observing the strike.
According to him, “There is no strike. We are not observing any strike. Presently as I am talking to you, I am at the Osun State Secretariat, Abere.
“All the offices are open. People are here working and everything is working.”
Reacting to the news that most civil servants did not turn up for work, Adebowale said the misunderstanding was due to an information gap.
“The information did not adequately go around. I assure you that in some hours’ time, the place will be full again,” he said.
Commercial banks in Osogbo remained closed for business after the National Union Of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, NUBIFIE, issued a statement indicating that all banks would be shut down on Tuesday, 5, and Wednesday, 6, September 2023.
According to the union, it will join the NLC to protest the impact of the removal of fuel subsidies in the country.
