Labour threatens to shut market, private offices in Ekiti

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ekiti State chapter, yesterday, warned traders and private outlets in the state to close for businesses or be ready to be blamed for anything that happens to them from today (Saturday).

The NLC expressed dismay at the attitude of some private outlets which have refused to join the protest against the hike in the pump price of petroleum.

It warned that any shop or private office that opens for business from today should ready to face the consequences.

It particularly warned financial institutions, traders and artisans to stay at home in obedience to the strike action.

The union staged a street protest in Ado Ekiti yesterday in coalition with the Joint Action Front.

The state NLC Chairman, Raymond Adesanmi, said that there would be total shutdown of the state on Saturday.

He said: “There is a directive from the national headquarters to embark on strike. Unfortunately, there are dissidents. Federal Government has succeeded in sowing seed of discord among the labour unions. But we are telling them, in united we stand. Nothing will divide us.

“It seems to some people that the labour is divided but that is not true. We are not saying that subsidy should not be removed but that the labour as a stakeholder must be carried along.

“We are not picketing. The message we are taking to people anywhere we notice they open is that, as ‪from tomorrow, every office must be shut down. Whoever loses his property should not blame us because we have warned them enough.‬”