Some traders in Ibadan metropolis have expressed mixed feelings over the ongoing nationwide strike declared by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The traders, in their separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Monday, that the strike would, no doubt, affect their sales.
Mrs Basirat Lawal, a pepper seller at Challenge, expressed sadness over the strike, saying that it would have a telling effect on her sales.
Lawal said that she did not operate a bank account, as this would limit the number of customers she could attend to.
“I don’t have a bank account. Even before this strike, I used to lose some customers who don’t have cash to pay, but with this strike, I know my sales will drop because banks have also joined the strike.
“I’m not happy, I must say, but the people who embarked on the strike are only demanding for their rights,” she said.
Abdulmalik Musa, a fruit seller at Molete, expressed the hope that the strike would yield results.
According to him, the NLC must ensure that the strike is effective in order for them to achieve their desired goal.
“Now that they have started the strike, they should continue and see it to its logical conclusion,” he said.
Musa expressed full support for the workers demanding for a new minimum wage, saying that after all, the politicians, who he alleged of doing nothing, were getting so much.
Miss Ajoke Busari, a fish seller, urged the federal government to constitute a committee that would be saddled with the responsibility of maintaining price control in the country.
Busari noted that the fish business was no longer lucrative due to high prices, stressing that some of her colleagues had been forced to quit the business.
“Before now, two or three of us normally shared a carton of fish so that we all could have varieties of fishes to sell.
“Now, five or six of us share a cartoon, and we barely make gains at the end of the day.
“To me, the demands of NLC and TUC should include increasing workers’ salary and reducing the cost of things so that the money can make an impact on everyone, not just the workers,” she said.
Mrs Omobonike Ayinde, a foodstuffs seller at Molete market, said when workers were paid better, it would have ripple effects on the entire Nigerians.
“Their monthly or weekly purchase will increase and so are our sales, while credit purchase will stop or reduce drastically.
“But nowadays, when we sell too much on credit, restocking becomes a big problem for us, but we can’t do without selling on credit to some of our customers.
“When workers receive good payment, it’s not just them that will enjoy; it will cut across,” she said. (NAN
