Though the last nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress was widely implemented, the University of Benin chapter of the Congress of Nigeria University Academics (CONUA) shunned the strike, calling it a “one man decision”.
The Chairman of the Uniben CONUA, Comrade Ishaq Osagie-Eweka, who stated this in a chat with our Correspondent in Benin, said that CONUA is not an affiliate of the NLC, hence, it was not part of the protest.
“On behalf of CONUA members, Uniben Chapter, I wish to unequivocally state that we are not an affiliate of NLC, hence, we are not part of the protest.
“I call on our members to go about their lawful duties for the overall best interest of the students.
“As a chapter, we shall not make any public statement regarding the sudden strike arising from one man’s decision, over his ill-conceived protest at Imo State that led to an alleged physical attack,” he said
Dr. Osagie-Eweka, however, maintained that the rationale behind CONUA is to promote uninterrupted academic calendar of university education in Nigeria.
He noted that the administration of the Vice Chancellor of University of Benin was in tandem with the union’s objectives of having a smooth and uninterrupted academic calendar in the school.
The NLC nationwide indefinite strike paralysed human and commercial activities in Edo State.
A visit to areas around the Edo State capital revealed that courts, banks, and other financial institutions were under lock and key in strict compliance with NLC directives.
Also, activities in government ministries and agencies were also halted by the solidarity strike while only private businesses opened for business.
Also, workers of Oredo, Egor and other local governments in the Benin City metropolis complied with the strike as workers hung around the councils’ premises without going in.
The NLC Chairman in Edo State, Comrade Odion Olaiye has praised workers in the state for complying with the strike action. The NLC had last week embarked on a nationwide industrial action to protest against the alleged assault on its National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in Imo State recently.
