THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) made good its threat to cripple activities in Nigeria yesterday as it recorded success in its sit-at-home protest against the inauguration of President Umaru Yar�Adua.
NLC and its civil society allies under the aegis of Labour and Civil Societies Coalition (LASCO) had called out workers on a sit-at-home protest for yesterday and today to protest against what they said was the irregularities that marred the election that produced Yar�Adua.
The NLC yesterday also urged workers and Nigerians to hold �neighbourhood rallies� today to further the protest.
In Abuja, business activities were paralysed as workers and commercial outfits complied with the order.
Business and government activities were grounded, while three truckloads of police arrived at the Labour House headquarters of the NLC and cordoned off the premises.
As at 3. 30 p.m when the Nigerian Tribune visited the Labour House, a police pick-up van was still seen stationed close to the premises.
Despite threats by the police high command against any form of protests that would jeopardise the successful and peaceful handover of government to the president-elect, Alhaji Umar Musa Yar�Adua today, the Nigerians were not deterred. Bonfires were lit in some parts of the FCT. Banks and other commercial outfits were closed to business.
Investigation revealed that in Garki, Central District and Wuse areas of the city, the roads were free of normal traffic while those who besieged their banks were turned back.
Reacting to the development, the NLC General Secretary, Mr. John Odah, said there was support for the sit-at-home protest, saying that the Federal Government added to the success, especially in the FCT, by asking workers to stay at home without declaring a public holiday.
In continuation of the protest, Odah said protesters �should do neighbourhood rallies� today and added that there was a problem in Nyanyan and Kubwa parts of the FCT yesterday between the police and the labour leaders.
In Ekiti State, many workers in the state deserted their places of work in compliance with the protest.
Nigerian Tribune investigations in the state capital, Ado-Ekiti, and some other parts of the state yesterday, revealed that offices were deserted by workers who opted for personal business like trading and hawking.
At the state secretariat in Ado-Ekiti, only a few top government officials were seen in their offices. Also, many banks did not open as at the time the Nigerian Tribune visited their premises.
One of the banks visited is a first generation bank in Ajilosun area of the town. The workers of the state House of Assembly were not in their offices and many workers in the Governor�s Office also did not show up.
The state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) was locked. No official could be reached for comment.
Meanwhile, a combined team of mobile and conventional policemen has been deployed in the state capital in preparation for the inauguration of the new administration.
The policemen could be seen at strategic places in the town. Speaking on the development, the state Police Commissioner, through the Public Relation Officer, Mr. Gabriel Celestine, said the police would do all they could to see that peace was maintained before, during and after the inauguration in the state.
In Rivers State, the sit-at-home order kept most public institutions like schools, offices and banks under lock. But there was no restriction of movement in Port Harcourt as people went about their business without molestation.
Armed mobile policemen were seen patrolling major streets in the state capital. Markets, motor parks, shops and other commercial concerns opened for business, just like the state election petition tribunal held its sitting uninterrupted at the High Court 2 in Port Harcourt.
It was further observed that staff of the Government House and the state Accountant-General�s office offered skeleton services. This, the Nigerian Tribune gathered, was geared towards ensuring the successful inauguration of Sir Celestine Omehia as the governor of the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Felix Ogbaudu, speaking through the command�s Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Ireju Barasua, told the Nigerian Tribune in a telephone interview that nothing unusual happened in the state.
In Kogi State, yesterday, labour leaders stormed the state secretariat and drove away workers who had arrived for work. The workers had defied the stay-at-home order by both the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress (TUC) and reported in their offices.
The state secretary of NLC, Mr. Segun Abdul, stated that the union went round some offices to ensure that workers complied with the directive from the national headquarters on the stay-at-home order.
Nigerian Tribune discovered that the state secretariat became deserted around 12 noon, while some banks that opened for business in the morning later closed shop.
However, some known customers were allowed in through a special arrangement. It was gathered that the closure of such banks was as a result of directives from their headquarters to guard against looting by hoodlums.