Checks around Abuja on Thursday revealed that there was total compliance with the industrial action declared by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over the failure of government to implement the new minimum wage.
The union said the Federal Government had refused to reconvene the meeting of the tripartite national minimum wage committee to enable it conclude its work.
When SaharaReporters visited the Federal Secretariat, the gates of the building were under lock and key.
It was gathered that some workers strolled to the office to see if the strike would be effective, and when they discovered that all offices were locked they returned home.
Commercial activities were also been grounded, as banks also complied with the directives. Some customers, who thronged banks for transactions, were turned back. The situation led to an unprecedented crowd at the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) as they made frantic efforts to withdraw money.
The strike, however, did not affect flight operations at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport airport, as passengers are boarding their flights without hassle.
Petrol stations were also not affected, as many of them were seen selling fuel to motorists, and there was no queue.
However, all the public schools in the city were closed, as students were turned back while many loitered around.
The organised labour had held a meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, in Abuja on Wednesday, which did not produce the expected outcome.
Announcing the strike on Wednesday, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, had directed all workers at all levels across the country to comply with the nationwide strike.
“All public and private institutions, offices, banks, schools, public and private business premises, including filling station, are to remain shut till further notice,” he had said.
The workers are demanding a new minimum wage of about N56,000, instead of the current national minimum wage of N18,000.
