ASUU: 47 trade unions join NLC solidarity protest
By Ben Onars, Abuja
As the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) stormed Kaduna streets on Tuesday to protest in solidarity with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)’s lingering strike, 47 trade unions joined in Kaduna.
The protesters, from various trade unions, assembled at the NLC State Secretariat on Golf Course road, from where they marched to the state House of Assembly through the Independence Way.
Chairman Kaduna state council of the NLC, Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman, who led the protest, said Nigerian government doesn’t understand any other language except protest, adding that they are solidly behind ASUU to ensure Federal Government does the needful.
“This is a serious business. We want our children back to school. We are not financially bouyant to send our own children to abroad for study. Labour is ready to take it back by our struggle, 47 trade unions are present here with us on the struggle,” he said.
Ayuba, who delivered a two-page written documents, further stressed that the union is dismayed by the federal government’s paralysis and reluctance to take the necessary steps that could lead to the peaceful resolution of the issues in dispute and by extension, end the strike.
He said: “On our part, we have taken various initiatives to end this strike including writing to the Ministers of Education and Labour and Employment and the Presidency. Although this elicited some response from government, it was tokenistic and not sufficient. However, we find it appropriate to appeal to you to use your good offices and good conscience to get the Federal Government to bring to an end this strike action.
“Our immediate concern would be the immediate payment of the withheld salaries of university staff, shelve IPPIS, honour the agreements government entered into or re-negotiate in good faith, rebuild confidences, establish a framework for repositioning our universities for competitive service delivery and relevance in line with their mandate. This matter, we dare say, is of grave national importance, hence this appeal to you. While we await your response.”
Receiving the protesters at the Kaduna State House of Assembly, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Isaac Auta Zankai, appreciated the Labour leaders, saying “On behalf of the Honourable Speaker, I want to thank you for your patience. Nobody is happy to see the students at home and our desire is to ensure the children are back to school.
“The Speaker and Chairman, Northern Speakers Forum, Hon. Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani, is currently in Abuja, over the issue and we know soon positive response will be heard.
Despite the federal government’s position on the purported illegality of the protest over the continued strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Tuesday commenced a two-day nationwide protest to show its members angst over the stalemate. While Minister of Information and Tourism Lai…