By Jennifer Ugwueke
Some travellers were stranded at the Rigasa Train Station in Kaduna on Monday following the strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). Last week, the NLC had vowed to shut the train station, airport and other key places in the State over what it described as anti-labour policies of the Kaduna State Government. But Governor Nasir El-Rufai dared the NLC, saying his Government was waiting for them. El-Rufai had said his Government would not bow to blackmail, insisting that it was not sustainable to spend 84 to 96 percent of federal allocation on salaries and personnel costs.
The State Government had noted that it had been subjected to campaign of lies, misrepresentation and false claims that its rightsizing exercise affected 4,000 workers and that it had stopped paying the minimum wage. On Monday, NLC members commenced the strike action, vowing not to back down until the Kaduna Government backs down on its “anti-people policies”.
At Rigasa, some travellers who bought tickets online were seen stranded. But they were told their tickets would remain valid as long as they use them on the day the strike is called off.