Midnight Fire Razes Sokoto NLC Secretariat Day After Workers’ Day
By Fahad Faruk Galadanchi
A major fire disaster struck in the early hours of Saturday when the Sokoto State secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress NLCwas gutted by flames, less than 24 hours after workers celebrated International Workers’ Day.
The blaze reportedly started around 3:00 a.m and quickly consumed the building, destroying office furniture, vital records, electronics and other valuables.
Residents said the fire spread fast before help could arrive leaving the labour secretariat severely damaged.
Though the exact cause had not been confirmed at the time of filing this report, the incident is suspected to have been triggered by a power surge, following repeated electricity fluctuations in the area.
Reacting to the tragedy, Sokoto State NLC Chairman Abdullahi Aliyu, widely known as “Jungle” described the incident as a heavy blow to organised labour in the state.
“This is a painful and unfortunate development. We have lost valuable property and important documents. It is coming at a time we are reflecting on workers’ welfare and solidarity”he said.
The incident has renewed concerns over unstable electricity supply and the dangers posed by power surges to homes, offices and public institutions.
Labour leaders and residents are calling on relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the fire and provide urgent support to rebuild the secretariat.
As of press time, the fire was still smouldering, while the building had been largely reduced to rubble.
