…To hold Abuja mega protest today
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), yesterday, gave the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to resolve the dispute with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) or face a total shutdown across the country.
The NLC Chairperson in Lagos, Agnes Sessy, issued the ultimatum at the State Government House in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, during a rally organised by the Congress to protest the on-going strike by ASUU.
Recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), and other trade unions in the education sector have been on strike for over five months for the alleged failure of the government to keep to agreements entered with the unions. The demands of the striking workers include issues bordering on funding of universities, salaries and earned allowances of lecturers, among others.
Sessy said the NLC would leave no stone unturned in the efforts at bringing back the students to school after the five months of enforced stay-at-home and urged the Government to expedite action on the varsity lecturers demand to avoid another #EndSARS protest with its attendant destruction that followed.
The NLC official said: If the Federal Government does not resolve the strike within two weeks, there would be a nationwide mass protest. In fact, the #EndSARS protest would be a childs play.
Meanwhile, the NLC General-Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, says the Congress will hold an Abuja Mega solidarity protest in support of trade unions on the strike by public universities. He made this known in an issued press statement signed by Bello Isma’il, on his behalf, and made available to newsmen yesterday, in Abuja.
According to Ugboaja, in furtherance of the decision of the National Executive Council of the Congress, a mega rally will hold in Abuja today, Wednesday. I am directed to inform you that workers are to converge on the Unity Fountain at 7:30 a.m. “Given the significance of this rally, affiliates are directed to mobilise in large numbers, he stated.
The solidarity protests started nationwide yesterday across all States of the Federation. The Congress also threatened to embark on a three-day warning strike if the Government still refused to do the needful immediately after the protest.
