Public institutions, banks, and government facilities in Akwa have been shut down in compliance with the nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress and its affiliate unions.
In Uyo metropolis, public schools, the state, and federal secretariats along Abak Road were closed following directives from the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
At Udoudoma banking layout, all banks in the area closed their doors, leaving customers disappointed as they could not access banking services.
The gates of the University of Uyo and Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, were closed, preventing students from entering.
Public primary and secondary schools also shut down, and teachers did not report to work, returning home instead.
Students of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic scheduled to write their first semester examinations on Monday were disappointed as the school gates were closed.
Affected students included those pursuing Higher National Diploma (HND) in the newly separated Mass Communication Department, now Journalism and Media Studies (JMS), and Computer Science, who were scheduled for exams today.
In a statement by Edidiong Williams, Head of Media at Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, made available to Daily Sun on Monday, the institution announced the suspension of all examinations and academic activities to comply with the indefinite strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress.
The statement read:
“Following the failure of the National Assembly and the Federal Government to intervene in the indefinite strike action by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), all academic activities in the institution have been suspended.
“The indefinite strike stems from a disagreement over a new national minimum wage and issues related to electricity tariffs.
“All examinations scheduled for the unbundled Mass Communication and Computer Science Departments are also on hold pending the outcome of the strike,” he said.