Some residents of Kaduna have lamented the cost of the strike embarked upon by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state.
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The NLC had mobilised its affiliate unions in the state for a five-day industrial action to protest the mass sacking of 4,000 workers by the Kaduna State Government.
The action was suspended on Wednesday after the Federal Government intervened.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG), and staff of Kaduna Electric had on Sunday complied with the strike hours before it was due to commence on the midnight of Monday.
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The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) knocked off all the 33KV lines in Kaduna, leaving the state in total blackout, with filling stations across the state also shut.
Black marketers jumped at the opportunity, with residents left to source for power on their own.
Dele Olumuyiwa, who lives in Trikania area of the Kaduna metropolis, told Newsbreak that he spent N4,000 on fuel while the strike lasted.
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“I had to buy fuel to pump water at home and to charge our mobile devices. I spent N5,000 in three days. I didn’t go anywhere except to drive and look around for what the family would eat. I bought black market for N300 per litre. You cannot stay in darkness like that because of the security situation around the state. You need to know what is going on,” he said.
Another resident, Marshal Dambo, said black marketers sold fuel for between N350/N400 per litre in his area in Barnawa during the strike.
Dambo explained that he had to drive from Barnawa to Angwan Romi, both in Kaduna South, to buy fuel at N300 per litre.
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“Black marketers took advantage of the situation. Though they helped somehow, but from the normal N166 per litre to N300 was on a high side.
“I drove to Angwan Romi on Tuesday and Wednesday to buy at N300 because those boys were selling for between N350 and N400 in Barnawa. You need water and to power your generator to know what is going on in Kaduna. Our state has always been volatile,” he noted.
Mohammed Kabiru, who resides in Tudun Nupawa, Kaduna north, told cur correspondent that even security agents bought fuel from black marketers at N300 per litre.
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“There is a filling station close to where I live in Tudun Nupawa. Those black marketers as usual stood in front of filling stations. Police vans came there like twice on Tuesday to buy fuel.
“We also had to buy that day to follow up on television after those thugs attacked NLC workers”, he said.
Another resident of Barnawa, Longtong Yakubu, lamented that her husband had bought fuel in much quantity at N300 per litre, thinking the price would go up before the warning strike ends.
“To be honest, my husband wasn’t happy yesterday when we heard that the strike had been suspended. He bought 25 litres at N300 per litre on Wednesday morning after the four litres he bought on Tuesday finished,” she said.
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“Well, for now, the strike is over. We pray they (Kaduna state government) reach an agreement with labour. I really felt for those who had to endure those three days of darkness.”
The Kaduna State government and the leadership of the NLC are expected to begin dialogue today in Abuja with the Federal Government to mediate in the process.
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