Schools, hospitals shut in Kaduna as labour begins five-day strike

There was no activity in several schools and hospitals in Kaduna on Monday, as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) commenced its five-day warning strike in the state.

In April, Nasir el-Rufai, Kaduna governor, disengaged 4,000 workers across the 23 LGAs of the state, citing the state’s high wage bill as the reason.

The decision did not go down well with labour unions as NLC resolved to ground activities with a five-day warning strike.

According to NAN, several shops, hospitals, schools, and financial institutions were closed in the state, in compliance with the strike, which commenced on Sunday.

It was observed that most shops at the Sheikh Mahmood Gumi market, Ibrahim Taiwo and Kano roads of Kaduna central were also not open for business.

However, a few shops and roadside markets were seen selling basic things to residents.

Offices belonging to telecommunication service providers were shut.

Meanwhile, patients, including those on admission at General Hospital Sabon Tasha, Yusuf Dantsoho General Hospital, Tudun Wada and Gwamna Awan General Hospital in Nassarawa, were said to have been discharged, while the hospitals were closed.

Primary health centres in Kakuri, Nassarawa, Unguwan Yelwa and Sabon Tasha were also closed.

Some of the patients seen outside the hospital appealed to the state government to dialogue with NLC to address the situation.

On Sunday, the management of Kaduna Electric said the power outage in the state was as a result of the warning strike.

Abdulazeez Abdullahi, the company’s head of corporate communications, said the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) disconnected the power supply in compliance with the strike.