The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has faulted the Federal Government over zero pay for members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),who commenced warning strike on Monday.
The varsity lecturers embarked on two-weeks warning strike on account of unmet demands by the Federal Government.
President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in a statement on Monday, lamented that threat of “No Work, No Pay’ misrepresents the situation on the negotiated agreement.
According to him, the lecturers are willing to work, but the government, by reneging on its commitments, has made it impossible for them to do so with the dignity and conditions their profession deserves.
He maintained that the breach of contract lies with the state, not the scholars.
He added:”This struggle extends beyond an isolated industrial dispute. It reflects a broader societal issue. While the children of the elite attend private institutions or study abroad, the children of the working class and the poor are left in a public education system being systematically weakened.
“This creates an educational divide that limits social mobility and perpetuates inequality. An educated populace is essential for a progressive nation, and the current approach appears designed to reserve quality education as a commodity for the privileged few.”
Declaring its full solidarity with ASUU and all other unions in the tertiary education sector, the union called on the Federal Government to immediately set aside its threats and address the core issues in the negotiated agreements with ASUU.
The NLC will not stand idly by if,after the two-week warning strike, the government remains unresponsive, he quoted in the statement.
He added:”The NLC will convene an emergency meeting with its affiliates in the tertiary education sector to develop a comprehensive strategy for engaging the government.
“The struggle of ASUU is our struggle. The fight for public education is a fight for Nigeria’s future. We will no longer allow these unions to stand alone. We demand that the Federal Government use this two-week window to present a concrete plan for the full implementation of all agreements.
“The choice is clear: honour the agreements and salvage public education, or face the resolute and unified force of the entire Nigerian workforce.”
