The organised labour in Nigeria, under the umbrella of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress(TUC) has issued a last warning to the government to met the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) and end the six months strike of the lecturers or be faced with the prospect of a three day national protest and strike.
The workers issued the warning on Wednesday as they stormed the National Assembly complex, angered by the plight of the university lecturers.
The labour union said its match on the National Assembly is the first of its last ditch efforts to end the lingering impasse between the university teachers and the government, saying it should not be held responsible for whatever comes next if government failed to meet with its own end of the bargain.
The workers stormed the National Assembly complex as early as 7:30am and soon seized the Citizens’ Arena.
The unions gave stern warnings to government insisting that the workers action was not illegal and could further heighten tension after red alert threats of imminent terrorists attack on Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
Not even the huge contingent of police officers stationed all around the National Assembly complex was enough to douse the resilience of the workers who in solidarity chanted down at a regime they accused of repressing them and making life difficult for the Nigerian workers.
Their banners bear testimony to a plight that leaves the average Professor in Nigeria with a meagre monthly salary of $700 especially in the face of a free falling local currency, subjecting lecturers according to NLC President, Ayuba Wabba to slavery in their own country.
ASUU and the Federal Government had in 2009 reached an agreement, the terms of which have not been met eleven years after. A major source of conflict between the Federal Government and ASUU lies in the refusal of the university lecturers to accept government’s salary payment structure (IPPPS), asking that it should be replaced with its own payment structure.UTAS
While the workers’ protest raged outside, lawmakers in the Senate were held behind closed doors troubled about terrorists threat to abduct President Muhammadu Buhari, the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.
The same threat was extended to the federal lawmakers. But soon the noise from the restive workers rose high enough to draw the attention of the leadership of both chambers who responded by sending emissaries from both sides to appease the workers and with a promise to take a much more serious look into the matter with a view to ending the university lecturers’ strike.
The labour leaders then submitted a documented copies of their demands and positions to the lawmakers, hoping that it will be enough to make the government end the strike and prevent their next line of action.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
