Following the nationwide strike embarked by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, ATBUTH, in Bauchi has scaled down its operations to provide only emergency services.
The move comes as the Bauchi chapter of the NLC joined the industrial action.
Our correspondent who visited the Teaching Hospital on Monday observed that few medical practitioners were seen attending to patients.
The areas visited are the maternity, male surgery ward, gynaecology, male medical ward popularly known as ‘Sani Sami’ and paediatric ward, among others.
A staff at the pediatric ward who refused to disclose his identity told our reporter that routine activities are still ongoing with some patients admitted in the morning.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Teaching Hospital, Usman Abdullahi Koli, stated that the management has been instrumental in ensuring that emergency services continues, adding that the management is closely monitoring the strike.
However, many public offices remained locked with leaves placed at their main gates, indicating full participation in the strike within the Bauchi metropolis.
Both the state and federal secretariats were under lock, including all banks in the state. Customers who visited various banks were turned away.
Speaking with journalists at the state secretariat, the state acting chairman of NLC, Ibrahim Mai Kudi, said that they received a circular from the national union and they should ensure total compliance.
He said the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, expressed concern and disappointment over the Federal Government’s failure to conclude and pass into law a new National Minimum Wage Act and reverse the hike in electricity tariff.