Pupils in public primary and secondary schools in Osogbo, Osun State were sent home on Tuesday following the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.

At CAC Grammar School, Gbodofon, Osogbo, the gate was left wide open as pupils were seen moving out of the school premises. Teachers were also seen gathered under a tree discussing.

Similarly, some banks in Osogbo were closed to customers, while some were sceptical about opening their doors for business transactions.

Most offices at the state secretariat in Abere were deserted, with few workers observed going into and moving within the secretariat.

A worker in the secretariat, who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity, said the strike had not taken full effect and that unlike the previous nationwide strikes, the gates to the secretariat would have been shut with members of the NLC and other labour unions blocking them.

Security agents were seen stationed at the secretariat entrance and also at some strategic locations in Osogbo.

Osun State NLC Caretaker Chairperson, Modupeola Oyedele, told journalists that the strike was in compliance with the directive from the NLC and TUC headquarters.

Ms Oyedele said the instruction to their members was to stay away from work, noting that there would not be any form of street protest.

“We are not doing street protests. The instruction is for workers to abstain from work and we are complying. Public schools have sent back their pupils in compliance with the strike. Many sent their pupils back this morning because the strike directive came late last night; that is why pupils were turned back after getting to school.

“We are ensuring that there is compliance as our officials are at the state secretariat to ensure workers do not resume in their offices,” she said

The labour unions on Monday directed their members and affiliates to withdraw their services from Tuesday, a move the Federal Government had termed illegal. 

(NAN)