NLC vows to shut down economic activities, gives reason, details emerge

• Joe Ajaero's led NLC has expressed concern over the unpaid salaries of some of its member unions in the education section
• After settling the minimum wage dispute on Thursday, the labour union vowed to embark on a nationwide strike as its sister union, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), if the four months' salaries withheld by the government were not paid to members
• This is after the police stopped the SSANU and its sister union, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, from embarking on a nationwide protest

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

After reaching an agreement on the new minimum wage on Thursday, July 18, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strongly warned the federal government led by President Bola Tinubu over the withheld salaries of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions.

Labour threatens strike after meeting Tinubu on Thursday. Photo credit: Nigeria Labour Congress HQ
Source: Facebook

Why labour is going on strike

In a statement by its head of public affairs, Benson Upah, the labour union said the government will court a nationwide protest if it fails to heed its warnings.

As reported by The Punch, the NLC also criticised the commissioner of police, FCT command, Bennet Igweh, over the alleged harassment of the protesting university workers.

Recall that the police on Thursday, July 18, stopped the Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions from embarking on protest in Abuja.

This happened after ASUU president Professor Emmanuel Osodeke lamented that none of the agreements reached with the federal government had been implemented.

The education union clarified that a strike is not imminent if agreements are implemented by the FG within the next two weeks.

In a swift reaction to the development, NLC said:

“The FCT Police Command Commissioner, Compol Bennett Igweh deservedly earned our outrage and contempt by violently breaking up a peaceful protest at Unity Fountain on Thursday, July 18, 2024, by members of two of our affiliates, NASU and SSANU.“The behaviour of the police is an affront to the 1999 constitution (as amended), ILO Conventions 87 and 98 and African Charter on People and Human Rights which guarantee freedom of association and speech; a violation of the Supreme Court ruling that citizens do not need the permit or approval of the police to peacefully protest and an insult to the dignity of self-respecting and law-abiding citizens.“The reason for the peaceful protest by NASU and SSANU is very much in the public domain which is the non-payment of their four-months withheld salaries after workers in other unions were paid for the same strike action.“The two unions had exhausted all means lawful over a long period including a warning strike as a means for getting their salaries paid.”

Tinubu pledges autonomy to Nigerian universities

In another development, Legit.ng reported that President Tinubu said he is convinced that granting autonomy to Nigerian universities will bring about excellence.

Tinubu said his administration is committed to repositioning tertiary institutions in the country. The president said his government plans to put universities on a pedestal that would enable them to compete with their counterparts in any part of the world.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Engr. Abubakar Momoh disclosed that Tinubu’s administration is working towards the introduction of a policy that will grant full autonomy to universities.

Source: Legit.ng