Ibrahim Gaper, the chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Niger, said on Monday that the union recorded 100 per cent compliance with the ongoing strike over the minimum wage.

He said this in an interview with journalists shortly after monitoring the level of compliance in Minna, the state capital.

Mr Gana said that unlike in the past, the officials of organised labour did not struggle with workers in their offices this time.

“This is the most fantastic strike we have ever had; the level of compliance is 100 per cent; we didn’t struggle with people in their offices this time.

“Just a circular that workers should comply per cent national directives of both NLC and TUC, and virtually everywhere we have gone, we have 100 per cent compliance,” Mr Gana said.

He said the level of compliance indicates that workers are beginning to listen to the labour leaders and understand the yearnings of the union in the country.

The chairman said federal and state organisations observed total compliance, adding that the strike would continue until the union received further directives from its national body.

Parts of organisations shut down by NLC included the Minna General Hospital, Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, Federal Inland Revenue, and the State High Court.

Other places visited by the union officials were the Niger State House of Assembly, the state secretariat, the office of the Secretary to the Niger Government and the office of the deputy governor.

NLC announced a nationwide strike on June 1, commencing on June 3, following the tripartite committee’s failure to agree on a new minimum wage for workers.

In addition, unions are protesting against recent hikes in electricity tariffs, which they say have placed an undue burden on workers and consumers across the country.

(NAN)