In support of the ongoing strike by academics, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, is mobilizing members across the country for a two-day demonstration organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC.
ASUU’s National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, revealed this in an interview with Sunday Vanguard over the weekend, saying that the union would mobilize its members for the two-day rally scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday as an affiliate of the NLC.
This initiative by the NLC to organize a rally in support of our struggle has our wholehearted endorsement.
Not for our own benefit, but for the benefit of the educational system as a whole. Congress-affiliated organizations like ours will attend and mobilize their members to do the same.
In our speeches, we constantly stressing that ASUU is not alone in this fight. Everyone who is a reasonable person in this country should participate. Those who don’t care about the future of education should not be allowed to make decisions about it. The level of education in a country is the only limit to its progress.
According to him, “We hope the government will wake up and realize that this industry has to be given the attention and priority that it deserves.”
Remember that ASUU has been on strike since February 14 this year in response to various government demands.
A committee headed by Prof. Nimi Briggs was later formed by the federal government in order to rewrite the 2009 agreement that had been endorsed by both the union and the FG.
ASUU accuses the government of not prioritizing education because of the government’s claim that it cannot meet the financial responsibilities required to implement certain elements of the agreement.
The Briggs Committee’s report, on the other hand, has been discarded by the government for unknown reasons.
While this was going on, the FG slammed the NLC for siding with ASUU in their dispute.
There is no conflict between the government and the NLC, according to the country’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
Moreover, I believe that we should also begin to question the role of labor. As a nonpartisan organization, the NLC does not engage in politics. NLC members’ rights may necessitate a strike or protest by the union. During the next two days, the National Labor Committee (NLC) will focus on interest, he said.
According to the Minister, the Congress must protect itself against political influence.
Aviation workers are also expected to participate in the march, which could cause major delays at airports across the country.
Hadi Sirika, the Minister of Aviation, also urged aviation personnel to avoid participating in the rally.
