The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Lagos State yesterday gave the federal government a two-week ultimatum to resolve the impasse with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) or face more serious protests.
It made this threat while observing the national body’s directive to embark on a protest to pressure the federal government into meeting ASUU’s demands towards ending the over six-month-old industrial dispute.
Also as part of its activities, the national headquarters of the NLC has directed all affiliate unions to converge on Abuja today for a mega rally.
The mega rally is part of the two days of protest in support of striking university workers who are seeking reformation of Nigeria’s university system.
Today’s rally might precede a three-day warning strike on Thursday as earlier reported, should federal government fail to resolve the issues around the strike.
The notice of the rally was released at the Pascal Bafyau Labour House in Abuja yesterday, and signed by Comrade Bello Ismail for the general secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja.
The circular read, “In furtherance of the decision of the national executive council of the congress that a mega rally holds in Abuja on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, I am directed to inform you that workers are directed to converge at Unity Fountain at 7:30am. Given the significance of this rally, affiliates are directed to mobilise in large numbers.”
The NLC Lagos State Council chairperson, Comrade Agnes Funmi Sessi, who made this known while addressing a crowd at the entrance of Lagos State Governor’s office, cited the unfavourable conditions parents and the students in the nation’s universities are going through as reason for the warning protest.
Speaking before the commencement of the protest march to the governor’s office at 9:05am from under the bridge by Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, Funmi said the concern of the NLC over forced holiday for students in the universities made the union call for a protest since protest is the only language the government understands.
Also speaking during the protest, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) called for accountability from those who have looted the public fund through the payment platform, IPPIS.
He said that IPPIS is a fraudulent tool through which public funds are being siphoned, just as he demanded the eradication of spending of American dollars in Nigeria.
He noted that with the instrumentality of IPPIS, the former accountant-general was able to steal billions of naira, saying the money that one man stole can take care of the needs of ASUU.
In Kaduna State, the NLC chairman, Comrade Ayuba Suleiman, said protest is the only language that Nigeria government understands, adding that the union was solidly behind ASUU to ensure that federal government does the needful.
According to him, the national president will lead a national protest in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) today.
He said, “This is a serious business. We want our children back to school. We are not financially buoyant to send our own children to abroad for study.” Ayuba, said.
Comrade Suleiman, who led the protest to the Kaduna State House of Assembly, said, “Labour is ready to take it back through our struggle”, just he noted that 47 trade union organisations in Kaduna State participated in the protest.
Ayuba, who delivered a two-page letter to the Kaduna State House of Assembly Speaker, Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani, further stressed that the union is dismayed by the federal government’s paralysis and reluctance to take the necessary steps that could lead to the peaceful resolution of the issues in dispute and, by extension, end the strike.
He said: “On our part, we have taken various initiatives to end this strike including writing to the ministers of Education and Labour and Employment and the presidency. Although this elicited some response from government, it was tokenistic and not sufficient.
“However, we find it appropriate to appeal to you to use your good offices and good conscience to get the federal to bring to an end this strike action,” he said.
The protesters were received by the Deputy Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly. Hon. Isaac Auta who appreciated the Labour leaders for their peaceful march.
“Nobody is happy to see the students at home and our desire is to ensure the children are back to school,” he said.
In Jos, the Plateau State capital, there was a massive turnout by over 15 trade unions during the NLC solidarity protest march in support of ASUU.
The procession which was carried out by NLC and its affiliate unions began at about 8am from the secretariat junction flyover to the state house of assembly complex.
It was like a fanfare all through by students’ union governments of tertiary institutions. They expressed dismay at the nonchalant attitude of the federal government toward resolving the ASUU strike.
At the Plateau House of Assembly complex the large crowd was received by the speaker of the state assembly, Yakubu Sanda.
The state chairman of NLC, Comrade Eugene Manji, lamented the inability of the federal gvernment to honour the agreement it voluntarily entered into with ASUU.
Speaker Yakubu Sanda in his response commended the protesters for their peaceful conduct.
He said government had failed in this regard because the lawmakers also had children in the university and for them to stay at home for six months is not a good development for the country.
The NLC Bauchi State chapter described the over six months industrial action of ASUU as a disgrace to Nigeria at the international level.
Speaking when he led a procession of the protesting labour leaders to the Government House, Bauchi, NLC chairman in the state, Comrade Danjuma Saleh stressed the need for all hands to be on deck in order to resist the continuous closure of public institutions to the detriment of the majority.
According to him, the spate of kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and other crimes going on in the county was as a result of ignorance and neglect of the education of the teeming youth of the country and pointed out that if young children are not educated and engaged, the crimes and devilish acts will not be contained in communities and the nation at large.
Northern Youths Declare Support For NLC
A frontline group, Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) has declared support for the NLC solidarity protest.
NYLF is made of over 47 groups.
NYLF national president, Comrade Elliot Afiyo, stated this in a statement ahead of a meeting with former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in Minna, Niger State yesterday.
On the ongoing strike by ASUU), the group said, “We observe with great dismay that the government has remained so insensitive to the plight of the Nigerian students despite its promises during campaigns that it will ensure continuous and uninterrupted sessions in all our tertiary institutions.
“In this light, we direct all our state chapters to accept and honour the NLC invitations and participate fully in the planned protest.”
Governors Urge Prompt Resolution Of crisis, Decry Plight Of Students
State governors have called for a quick resolution of the protracted ASUU strike.
Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje yesterday warned the federal government against further delay in resolving the lingering ASUU strike to avoid a total collapse of education.
Governor Ganduje, who received hundreds of protesting NLC joint protest march, said although the ASUU matter is an inherited one, it is high time government ended it without further delay.
Ganduje said, “It is no longer news that the university lecturers are in a serious mess because of lack of salaries, however more importantly the students are today missing out on their studies which is gradually turning them dormant.
“Government owes it as a responsibility to see to the end of the lingering strike so that Nigerian education would remain intact while having a brighter future in the youths”.
The governor added that in Kano, his government has continued paying lecturers who are also on strike.
“We in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and are moving seriously to resolve the situation so that the nation’s universities will re-open and allow students to continue with their studies, We are not living any stone unturned.”
Speaking during the protest, the Kano State NLC chairman, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, called on Federal Government to quickly fulfil the demands of ASUU because the protest is just a tip of the iceberg of more actions to come.
Workers under the aegis of NLC yesterday stormed the Imo Government House, Owerri, in solidarity with ASUU, with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma declaring support for the action, saying he was in solidarity with Nigerian workers.
The governor, who was driving out of the premises, breached protocol, stepped out of his vehicle and danced to the union’s chants with the workers.
Addressing the crowd, Uzodimma said, “I welcome you all to Government House, Owerri. I’m also in solidarity with ASUU. The federal government can’t do anything against your interest. Federal government is not insensitive to the plight of ASUU. I call on you to look beyond protest; while you protest, I want you to think of ways to temper justice with mercy. I will do my best to protect workers in Imo State and I urge you to support federal government’s policies”.
Imo State chairman of ASUU, Revd Philip Nwansi, in his address called on government to honour the agreement signed since 2009 and return students to school.
Nwansi said, “We are not fighting government; we are here in solidarity with ASUU as directed by our national leadership. We are here to demand the implementation of the agreement signed since 2009. It is time for Lecturers and students to return to the classrooms. Federal government should resolve her differences with ASUU and ensure quality education for our children”.
Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi yesterday told protesting members of the organised labour that he was equally concerned about the prolonged ASUU strike.
The workers marched from the Enugu State Labour House at New Market, Enugu, to the state government house, where they listed their grievances to the governor.
Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Simon Otuanya, commended the organized labour for the peaceful manner they conducted the demonstration
“We share in your concern. We have always known that education is the foundation of the society. That’s why this government has obtained NUC license for University of Medicine and Applied Sciences, Igba-Ano. We also attracted the Federal Polytechnic, Ohodo, to Enugu State to boost access to education.
“We urge you to continue to engage with the federal government. We will effectively deliver your message to the president”.
Earlier, the NLC state chairman, Comrade Virginus Nwobodo, disclosed that the workers came for the peaceful protest rally in solidarity with their colleagues in ASUU.
PMB’s Govt Playing Politics With Varsity Education – UNIMAID ASUU
ASUU in the University is of Maiduguri has said that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is playing politics with the Nigerian university education system.
The UNIMAID ASUU chairperson, Dr Abubakar Mshelia Saidu, said this during the NLC national solidarity rally in support of ASUU held at the NLC secretariat in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
Saidu said the NLC is deeply concerned about the far-reaching negative consequences of the lingering crisis in universities and other tertiary institutions, adding that the Union also frowned at the cheap blackmail of salary stoppage of the striking workers in the universities employed by the minister of labour and productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige.
He commended the courage and resilience of members who have shown a strong sense of commitment predicated on principles, noting that it is important to remind members that collective dignity and the survival of the university system lie in members sustaining this strike to its logical conclusion.
“The government is playing politics with the university education in Nigeria. It is very unfortunate and that is exactly what they are doing. If government wants this problem to be resolved in a day or two days at most, it will be resolved. It is very clear.
“Negotiations has been done, renegotiated again over and over, it is just implementation that is the problem. Go and sign that document and implement it, that is just what ASUU is asking. We are not after any other thing apart from signing the document and implementing it. Nothing short of that,” Dr. Saidu said.
Members of the Jigawa State branch of the NLC stormed Dutse Government House and demanded resolution to prolonged ASUU strike.
The secretary of the Jigawa State branch of NLC, Comrade Abubakar Alhassan led the demonstration to the Government House after 7-kilometre walk.
In his speech, Comrade Alhassan told Governor Badaru to inform the authorities concerned that enough was enough with regards to the over five-month ASUU strike and other problems militating against the country’s education sector.
“The situation our universities and their students found themselves is very disheartening, but at the same time the authorities concerned shows lackadaisical attitude toward resolving the ugly trend,” he said.
In his response, Governor Badaru Abubakar urged NLC and other affiliated unions to exercise restraint considering the enormous challenges confronting the nation.
ASUU Strike Has Forced Students Into Prostitution, Criminality – SSANU Leader
On its part, the chairperson, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, Awka chapter, Dr. Uchenna Nwangwu has raised the alarm that many students of the Nigerian universities have now been forced into prostitution and other criminalities as a result of the protracted ASUU strike.
Nwangwu, who condemned the federal government’s seeming lack of concern over the manner the lecturers’ strike had kept the students at home over six months now, said it showed that the country is under a bad leadership.
The SSANU leader spoke to LEADERSHIP exclusively during the Anambra state chapter of the NLC protest at Ekwueme Square, Awka.
He said, “Many of our children have been forced into all kinds of crime; while many female undergraduates have taken to prostitution, the males have gone into all kinds of crimes because, as you know, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop,” Nwangwu said.
NLC Defies Heavy Security In Uyo
Akwa Ibom State branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), along with other affiliate unions within and outside the tertiary institution system, yesterday, defied heavy police presence and marched on the Government House, Uyo, the State capital.
Led by the national president of NLC, Ayuba Waba, who was represented by the zonal officer, Hon. Uche Nweke and the state chairman, Comrade Sunny James, the group delivered a message to the governor for onward transmission to the federal government to quickly resolve the lingering ASUU strike to prevent the total shutdown of the economy vis a mass action.
In Kogi State, members of NLC held a solidarity walk from Stella Obasanjo Library on Government House road, to the Kogi State Government House and presented their demands to Governor Bello for the strike to be called off by the aggrieved lecturers.
Governor Bello assured the labour leaders that his administration will put pressure on the federal government to find a lasting solution to strikes in Nigeria.
On its part, Delta chapter of the NLC threatened to paralyse all economic and political activities in the country unless the federal government settles with ASUU
The labour unions marched round Asaba and terminated at the Government House, where they submitted a letter to Governor lfeanyi Okowa.
The organized labour in Bayelsa State led by NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) yesterday led other affiliate unions including the National Association of Nigeria Students, ,NANS, on a solidarity protest with ASUU.
As early as 8am, the protesters including students had converged at OMPADEC Bus stop where they began to march along the Chief Melford Okilo Road to the Creek Haven, the seat of Bayelsa State Government House.
All the shops and business activities were temporarily disrupted during the time the protest march lasted.
The protesters, who were led by the state chairman of NLC, Comrade John Ebipre Ndiomu, chanted solidarity songs and displayed placards with various inscriptions like: “Enough is enough, “Sign the renegotiated draft agreement between ASUU and FG,” “Adopt UTAS in place of IPPIS,” ” Pay Earned Academic Allowance,” “Release revitalization fund,” among others
Governor Diri, who used the opportunity to approve the increment of subvention to the state-owned tertiary institutions, said as a government that places high premium on education, his administration took the decision to strengthen the institutions for effective service delivery.
He also revealed that his administration did not stop the salary of ASUU members in state institutions despite the protracted strike, noting that the gesture was part of his government’s commitment to the development of the educational subsector.
Cross River State chapter of the NLC led thousands of its members to the streets of Calabar to participate in the nationwide strike.
The unions rallied to the Cross River state House of Assembly, Governor’s office, Calabar, the Federal Secretariat Calabar, and major streets around the state capital.
Addressing the state Government, NLC state chairman, Comrade Ben Ukpepi, said, “Either by compulsion or not, let our children return to school. It is disheartening, this is just a test; if after tomorrow nothing is done to address ASUU’s challenges, the entire Nigeria shall be on strike.”
Members of the civil society organisations led by the NLC in Benin City, the Edo state capital came out in large numbers to stage the solidarity with member of ASUU.
The peaceful march caused traffic gridlock around Ekenwan, Ring Road and Golf road as they marched to Government House, the seat of power to register their displeasure.
Low Turnout in Ebonyi
The nationwide protest by NLC yesterday witnessed low turnout of workers in Ebonyi State following the boycott of the protest by a faction led by Comrade Leonard Nkah.
LEADERSHIP gathered that Comrade Nkah’s faction, which is said to be loyal to the state government, had directed workers in the state not to participate in the nationwide protest.
Though reason for the boycott was not revealed to LEADERSHIP, a source close to the union disclosed that there was a directive from high authorities mandating state workers not to participate in the protest or risk losing their salary.
In Oyo State, members of various labour unions in Oyo State joined their counterparts across the country in the solidarity protest.
Speaking with journalists during the solidarity protest, the NLC chairman, Comrade Kayode Martins, noted that Nigeria’s education sector was currently in danger.
The Ogun State chapter of the NLC also joined their colleagues in the nationwide protest.
The NLC members, who gathered at the state secretariat as early as 7.a.m to carry out the protest, vowed to join the national leadership of the union in shutting down the country should the federal government fail to resolve all the issues surrounding the on-going strike by various unions in the nation’s public universities.
NLC State chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Bankole, while addressing newsmen said that the federal government had not adequately funded public universities in the country.
In Ondo State, workers who turned out in their numbers include members of ASUU and other trade unions.
The workers chanted solidarity songs as they marched through the popular Oba Adesida Road.
They displayed placards and banners with the inscriptions, “Enough is Enough”, “End ASUU Strike Now” among others.
Addressing the protesters, NLC Chairman in the state, Sunday Adeleye, lamented the lingering strike which he noted had crippled tertiary education in the country
In compliance with the directive of the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), its also joined the nationwide protest to press home the demand of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) from the federal government.
The peaceful protest in the Osun State chapter took off at about 10am at Ogo-Oluwa along Gbongan/Osogbo road in the state capital. It also had members of Civil Society Organisations taking active part.
