NLC solidarizes with ASUU, begins protest
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have hit the streets of Lagos to solidarize with striking members of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU). The protest is meant to hold simultaneously in all state chapters of the NLC.
The organised labour union earlier announced it would be holding a three-day nationwide strike to press government on the lingering ASUU’s strike.
“The protest is aimed at getting “our children back to school and support our unions in Nigeria’s public universities fighting for quality education,” said NLC president Ayuba Wabba, in his July 15 letter to state chapters of the union.
The university lecturers have snubbed the classroom in the last five months. The aggrieved lecturers are demanding increased university funding, including university revitalisation fund.
The federal government responded by setting up different negotiation committees and at different times claimed to have acceded ASUU’s demands. But the lecturers often debunk government’s claim that it either met their requests or of being staved of funds.
ASUU believes the government has the means, citing the alleged looting by public servants.
Just last week, the accountant-general of the federation, Ahmed Idris, was accused of stealing N190billion of public funds.
