Kaduna Polytechnic Students Locked Out as Nationwide Strike Shuts Down Campus

Kaduna Polytechnic saw academic activities come to a halt on Monday as Labour officials enforced the ongoing nationwide strike initiated by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). Union representatives arrived early at the polytechnic's Unguwan Rimi Campus and directed students to vacate the premises before locking the gates.

The strike, announced by organized labour on Friday, stems from the Federal Government's delay in finalizing a new National Minimum Wage Act and reversing an electricity tariff hike to N65/kWh. Labour leaders have instructed all members and affiliated unions to fully comply with the strike, which began at midnight on June 3, 2024.

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In a joint statement, NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo expressed frustration over the government's handling of their demands. They criticized the government's lack of serious engagement in negotiations, noting that no governors or senior ministers attended recent talks, leaving only the Minister of State for Labour and Employment to represent the government.

The labour leaders reiterated their call for a fair and decent minimum wage that reflects current economic realities and demanded a rollback of the electricity tariff increase. They also highlighted the government's persistent neglect and use of propaganda instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue with workers.

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The strike action follows a series of protests and an ultimatum issued during the May Day celebrations, which set a deadline for the government to meet labour's demands by the end of May. With no satisfactory response from the government, the NLC and TUC declared the indefinite nationwide strike to press home their demands for workers' welfare and fair treatment.