The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday expressed its solidarity with the hanging members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and faulted the federal government’s implementation of a ‘No work, No Pay’ coverage.
In an announcement by its president, Joe Ajaero, the NLC famous that ASUU’s ongoing warning strike is a ‘direct consequence’ of the federal government’s refusal to honour collectively bargained agreements.
Mr Ajaero known as on the federal authorities to right away put aside its threats and use the two-week window to handle the core points within the negotiated agreements with ASUU.
He mentioned the federal government’s continued refusal to implement agreements voluntarily reached with lecturers and staff is undermining public tertiary establishments.
He mentioned the NLC is deeply involved by the persistent disaster in Nigeria’s public training system, marked by continual underfunding and a failure to honour agreements.
“Moderately than partaking in good religion to resolve the disaster, the federal government has resorted to the unproductive risk of “No Work, No Pay.” This misrepresents the scenario. The breach of contract lies with the state, not the students,” he mentioned.
“In mild of this, the Nigeria Labour Congress hereby declares its full solidarity with ASUU and all different unions within the tertiary training sector.”
NLC throws help
Mr Ajaero famous that the lecturers are prepared to work, however the authorities has made it unimaginable for them because it continues to renege on its commitments.
“This battle extends past an remoted industrial dispute. It displays a broader societal subject. Whereas the youngsters of the elite attend personal establishments or examine overseas, the youngsters of the working class and the poor are left in a public training system being systematically weakened,” he mentioned.
“This creates an academic divide that limits social mobility and perpetuates inequality. An informed populace is crucial for a progressive nation, and the present strategy seems designed to order high quality training as a commodity for the privileged few.”
The NLC president mentioned it’s going to convene an emergency assembly with its associates within the tertiary training sector to develop a complete technique for partaking the federal government.
He mentioned the NLC will not permit the university-based unions to face alone as ASUU’s battle is struggle for public training and a struggle for Nigeria’s future.
“We serve discover that if, after this two-week warning strike, the federal government stays unresponsive, the NLC is not going to stand idly by,” the assertion added.
“The selection is obvious: honour the agreements and salvage public training or face the resolute and unified power of the whole Nigerian workforce.”
ASUU Strike
ASUU’s first nationwide strike in almost three years started on Monday as a two-week warning strike, following the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the federal authorities to handle the union’s lingering calls for.
Nevertheless, the Minister of Schooling instantly retaliated with a ‘No Work, No Pay’ coverage, asking college vice-chancellors to pay attention to lecturers who stayed away from work.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the strike, which is anticipated to final two weeks, disrupted examinations in some establishments throughout the nation.
READ ALSO: ASUU strike disrupts examinations in Nigerian universities
Calls for
ASUU’s over a decade-old grouse with the Nigerian authorities borders on its situations of service and funding for the schools as contained in a 2009 settlement between ASUU and the federal government.
The calls for as listed by ASUU embody the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN- ASUU Settlement, launch of the withheld three-and-half months salaries, sustainable funding of public universities, and the revitalisation of universities.
Others are fee of the excellent 25-35 per cent wage arrears, fee of promotion arrears for over 4 years, and the discharge of withheld cooperative contributions deductions.
The renegotiation of the 2009 settlement has stalled since 2017, with the federal government inaugurating not less than six committees inside the interval and failing to signal or implement the draft produced by the committees.
The most recent was the draft produced by the Yayale Ahmed-led committee, inaugurated in October 2024. Mr Ahmed’s committee’s report was submitted to the federal government in December 2024. Nevertheless, the minister mentioned he didn’t obtain it till February, in line with ASUU President, Chris Piwuna.
Mr Piwuna, a professor, mentioned the minister additionally waited till August earlier than inaugurating yet one more committee to look into the draft earlier than getting again to ASUU.
He famous that the union by no means heard from them once more till about 10 days into its two-week ultimatum.
On the assembly held on Friday, 10 October, the ASUU president mentioned the proposal introduced by the federal government was a whole departure from the draft produced by Mr Ahmed’s committee.
