The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is currently on strike, therefore the organised labour movement is preparing to protest the ongoing malaise, which has grounded the educational sector since February 2022.
The protest is intended to draw the government’s attention to the nation’s deteriorating security situation, the ongoing ASUU strike, and the never-ending energy crisis.
Ayuba Wabba, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ambali Olatunji, both spoke at separate conferences in Abuja, on Thursday, June 30.
The duo lamented the deteriorating security situation in the nation while pleading with the government to take action needed to redress the current impasse between ASUU over pre-existing agreements.
Wabba said;
For four months and running, the children of the poor have remained at home.
Today as we speak, Diesel is selling for more than N800 per litre. There is no way this situation can be allowed to continue.
So I think there’s an urgency in addressing this issue.
And therefore, central working committee decided that there will be a one-day national protest to call the attention of government to resolve this issue immediately.
The labour leaders also discussed other issues, including the ongoing constitution amendment, especially the aspect that touches on the autonomy of the local government and the judiciary.
Meanwhile, Federal Government had expressed hope that the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, would be called off soon.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, disclosed this during a chat with State House Correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday, June 22.
Read Also: ASUU President: We Will Query Varsities Who Fail To Comply With Strike Action
Ngige said efforts were underway to resolve the ongoing dispute largely caused by payment platforms.
He, however, said the Federal Government has no plans to establish an alternative payment system for universities.
The minister said;
Federal Government was indeed engaging with ASUU, despite notions that it has been snubbing the union.
ASUU has been on strike for four months now.
The body which started the industrial action on February 14, 2022, had insisted on the use of its own payment platform, University Transparency and Accountability Solution.
But, the Federal Government had insisted on the union using Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS.
