Workers in Taraba State have chosen to ignore the nationwide strike called for by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
Despite the directive, workers reported to their respective government establishments in Jalingo, the state capital, en masse on Tuesday.
Several workers who spoke to DAILY POST expressed dissatisfaction with the joint trade union’s leadership, holding them responsible for the workers’ failure to participate in the ongoing strike like their counterparts in other parts of the country.
The workers alleged that the state union leaders had been compromised by the state government, claiming that none of the union leaders had addressed stakeholders on how to proceed with the strike.
They pointed out that in contrast to other states where the strike was effective, Taraba State appeared to be an exception.
“As we speak, none of our leaders have come out to address us. They didn’t even find it necessary to issue a circular regarding the strike,” one worker stated.
Feeling confused by their leaders’ actions regarding the strike, the workers expressed their lack of trust in their leaders and stated that reporting to their respective ministries, agencies, and departments was their only option.
Another senior staff member from a ministry in the state secretariat commented, “The level of compliance is low because the leaders of the two unions failed to mobilize workers for the strike.”
The workers in the state have started losing confidence in the union’s leadership due to their perceived close relationship with the government.
Attempts to contact the NLC Chairman, Peter Jediel, and his TUC counterparts were unsuccessful, as they did not return calls or respond to messages from the reporter in the state.
