In response to the federal government’s refusal to increase the minimum wage beyond N60,000, organized labor has brought academic and economic activities to a standstill in Kaduna State. Labor is demanding a minimum wage of N494,000.
At the Kaduna Polytechnic, labor union officials arrived at the Unguwan Rimi Campus early in the morning, forcing students off the premises and locking the gates as part of the nationwide indefinite strike.
Some students expressed dissatisfaction with the action and urged labor to return to the negotiation table. They were concerned that the strike would disrupt their academic calendar.
Reports indicate that labor leaders in the state also sealed the main gate of the National Ear Care Centre, preventing workers from entering and patients from accessing the hospital.
At the state secretariat on Independence Way, where several ministries are located, labor union leaders locked workers out of the gate and shut down the main entrance.
Activities in banks and other financial institutions were also disrupted as labor union officials barred staff from entering their offices.
Additionally, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) halted operations at the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO).
Abdullahi Danfulani, the Kaduna State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), affirmed that all affiliate unions fully complied with the strike and would not withdraw their support until the federal government meets their demands.
