By Tony Nyong
Uyo — Two affiliate members of the Akwa Ibom State Council of the Nigerian Labour Congress are feared dead and more than 10 badly injured following a ghastly motor accident that involved the picketing team that went to check some workers who defied the union instructions on Wednesday.

The accident was alleged to have been caused by the reckless attitude of a  driver, who a close source told Vanguard had loaded himself with illicit gin, kaikai, before going behind the wheels for the exercise.

The Union Chairman in the State, Mr. Unyime Usoro, in a telephone conversation however denied the death of  the members but said that members who went out in the early hours of the day to disperse those who had gone to their offices got involved in a car accident on the newly completed flyover in the State.

He sai:”No labour leader could have been drunk while on such important exercise, we were even preparing to go and relax after the exercise, however, the victims are receiving attention at the Federal Medical Centre and we hope they will soon recover.”

In Akwa Ibom State economic activities have been grounded as banks, public schools, and all government agencies joined the strike. Workers were also seen around their offices converging, while the team barred them from entering their offices.

The strike circular in the State with reference NLC/AKS/CORR/VOLV11/274, addressed to the State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio in part read, ‘We write to convey to your Excellency, the decision of the State Executive Council of Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress at its meeting of Thursday, November 4, 2010 to embark on a three day strike as directed by the National Executive Council of Congress.’