Government activities have been paralyzed across the six area councils of the FCT following an indefinite strike action declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, in the country.
Many workers at the secretariat of the FCT administration were chased out of their offices.
The workers who had earlier reported at their various offices where chased out by some labour leaders who stormed the secretariat to force the workers out of the offices.
It was gathered that the FCT minister of State, who earlier reported at the office, left when the labour leaders came in.
Also, all the government institutions such as public schools and hospitals were deserted.
For instance, at the Abaji Area Council, academic activities at public primary and secondary schools were paralyzed, as schools remained locked without the presence of teachers.
Also, the general hospital in the area was deserted as doctors, nurses as well as other staff of the facility stayed away from work.
It was gathered that some patients who came for treatment turned back after they discovered that no medical personnel was on the ground to attend to them.
Government activities in Kwali and Gwagwalada Area Councils were also paralyzed as the secretariats’ gates were locked.
A staff of the Kwali Area Council, Josiah Benjamin, who spoke with daily trust said he decided to stay away from going to the office as a result of the directive by the national body of the NLC that every civil servant should stay at home.
“I didn’t go to the office because of the nationwide strike action declared by the NLC and TUC which I believe the situation was the same across the area councils”, he said.
Similarly, government activities were also at a standstill at the Kuje Area Council as civil servants did not show up to their various offices.The secretariat offices and the main gate remained under lock and key without any presence of staff on the ground.
Also, activities at the Kuje General Hospital were put on halt as medical personnel stayed away from the hospital, even as patients who went to seek medical attention were forced to go to private clinics in the area.
The secretariat of the Abuja Municipal Area Council was also shut down by labour leaders who were going around to ensure compliance.
Many workers in Bwari Area Council also stayed away from the office in compliance with the strike.
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