By Michael Oche
The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has said that if the Federal government fails to resolve the strike embarked by unions in public Universities after its two-day nationwide protest, it will mobilise its members for a three days warning strike.
The Labour Centre also said should the government fail to resolve the prolonged strike action after the warning strike, it will have no option but to declare an indefinite strike, thereby shutting down the economy.
NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, stated this while responded to questions from journalists at the sideline of the ongoing 18th NLC Rain School, in Uyo.
Nigerian Pilot reports that the four University-based Unions, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) have been on strike for over 5 months.
Wabba said; “The protest happening tomorrow is not a solidarity protest but a protest of NLC against government actions that lead to our universities being shutdown and our kids staying at home instead of going to school. All the unions directly involved in the strike are NLC affiliates and their members are part of NLC.
“We have taken three levels of decision. First is the protest which is going to be national tomorrow. After the protest, a three days national warning strike will start, and if they fail to resolve the issues and bring back our kids to school, we go on indefinite strike. That is the decision of our National executive council. And what will be helpful for them is to check the timeline we have given for them to resolve the issues. We are optimistic that they will be willing this time because we are also willing to get our children back to school.”
“Importantly is the issue of our children that are out of school for five months. Basically, it also requires a political decision for the issue to be sorted out. What is even more worrisome is the fact that they keep posting the graduation of their children in universities outside the country on social media and then the universities where the children of the worker are studying, are closed down.
“I was told today that we have 3 sets of students that ought to be in the university, but unfortunately, they have not even sorted out their admission challenges. So, it really a very frightening future for Nigerians, particularly the youths.
‘“The irony of it is that most of the political elites today benefited from free public education. Why is it impossible for them to fix our public education. Is it about the class divide? It honestly beats somebody’s imagination. That is why all of these issues resonates that we need to engage politically. We have also realize the fact that they have used different approaches to divide Nigerians.
“Unfortunately for them, NLC is a pan-Nigerian organisation that cannot be divided. And workers should not allow themselves to be divided along ethnic or religious line. This is just diversion if interest. Their division tool is happening now, Workers should be wiser, citizens should be wiser. We should work assiduously to unit Nigeria and not to divide Nigerian.”
