Some streets and businesses in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, were deserted as the proposed nationwide warning strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) began today.

According to The Daily Post, neither business owners nor residents had opened their establishments for the day.

On the other hand, traders and commercial transporters were seen going about their regular business at the Owode-Ede market on the outskirts of Osogbo.

Commercial minibuses, known as Korope, were moving about, conveying commuters to their destinations.

At the time of this report, the state civil servants were unsure if they would be going to work or not.

Bolanle Bamitale, a civil servant who spoke to the Daily Post, said she was doubtful about the strike.

She revealed that organized labor in the state had kept mum on the development.

“I am still indoors. I don’t know whether to go out or stay indoors. I have called several of my colleagues, and they too are unsure of any strike,” she said.

However, a trader, Tope Abdulgafar, said she would open her shop since she was not part of the labor force.

“I will open my shop now. I don’t have any business with the strike. I am not part of the labor force. If I want to survive, I must open my business every day,” she said.

The Daily Post also observed that the main gate of the Osun State Government Secretariat, Abere, was open.

The Chairman of the Association of Civil Servants of Nigeria, Osun Chapter, Adekola Adebowale, said civil servants in the state are not observing the strike.

According to him, “There is no strike. We are not observing any strikes. Presently, as I am talking to you, I am at the Osun State Secretariat in Abere.

“All the offices are open. People are here working, and everything is working.”

Reacting to the news that most civil servants did not turn up for work, Adebowale said the misunderstanding was due to an information gap.

“The information did not adequately go around. I assure you that in some hours’ time, the place will be full again,” he said.

Commercial banks in Osogbo remained closed for business after the National Union Of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions Employees, NUBIFIE, issued a statement indicating that all banks would be shut down on Tuesday, September 5, and Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

According to the union, it will join the NLC to protest the impact of the removal of fuel subsidies in the country.