The first day of the warning strike declared by the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), has already taken its toll on businesses, government offices, schools and banks in Umuahia and Makurdi.

All public and some private offices, including banks in Umuahia and Makurdi were on Thursday, shut down in line with the strike order by the Nigeria Labour Congress.

In most of the places in the two state capitals monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the offices were not opened for the day’s activities.

Bank customers were stranded at all the commercial banks visited, as the security guards told them the banks were not opened for business.

The ATM points were however, over crowded as some of the stranded customers resorted to them for their transactions.

All the state ministries were equally shut down, and the secretariat virtually empty when our correspondent visited.

A worker, who spoke to our correspondent in Umuahia said that they received a directive on Wednesday to join the strike.

Public schools in Umuahia were also shut down, pupils and students in various schools, including Community Primary School, and Comprehensive Secondary Umuda, who were probably not aware of the strike, were sent home.

A teacher at Central Primary School, Ugwunchara, Umuahia, told our correspondent that she came to monitor the exercise and as well inform the pupils who might not be aware of the development.

Activities were on at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, as the health workers were attending to the few patients seen at the hospital.

In Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the local government secretariat, the main entrance gate was firmly locked with fresh leaves hanging on it.

Some staff were also seen with leaves and placards with inscriptions such as:.
“We Deserve Better Pay, Minimum Wage Increase A Necessity, FG, Listen To Our Pleas.”

Also at the High Court, Appeal Court and Judiciary Service Commission in Makurdi,  the premises were empty as a few lawyers walked in and out of them with no sign of  any administrative staff to attend to them.

NAN reports that few banks were however opened for transactions while most others complied to the ” stay at home” directives of the NLC.

Both the Urban Development Board and Chief Magistrates’ court were under lock and key, but officers of the immigration service were seen at work.

Speaking on the strike, the NLC chairman in Benue, Comrade Godwin Anya, said the state would adhere strictly to the order from its National Body of the union.

He said it was a known fact that civil servants deserved the best and insisted that the demand for enhanced pay package was in order.

“We will ensure all offices comply to the warning strike,”he said.

NAN reports that while government establishments complied wholeheartedly to the directives of NLC, the private sector did not comply.

Union officials were seen picketing offices within and around Makurdi, the officials also disrupted the official inauguration of the Benue Micro Finance House scheduled to hold at 10a.m in Makurdi.

Banks such as Access Bank and Zenith Bank were opened while Polaris Bank, Union Bank, Ecobank, UBA, First Bank, were closed.

Also, markets such as High Level Market and Wurukum were opened.

NAN reports that the organised labour had on Wednesday, ordered total shut down warning strike across the country, following the deadlock of the meeting with the Federal Government, over minimum wage. (NAN)