NLC Threatens One-Day Nationwide Protest To Address Problems In Education Sector  

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has warned that it would embark on a one-day nationwide protest to coerce the Federal Government to proffer prompt solutions to the issues facing the education sector or the country.  

The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba made this known on Thursday during the opening of the Congress’ Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Abuja.

Wabba showed his displeasure at the continued closure of tertiary institutions in the country as a result of the pending labour conflict between the Federal Government and tertiary institution-based unions. 

The unions have suspended academic activities in tertiary institutions, demanding solutions to issues including the renegotiation of agreements, the funding of the revitalisation fund, payment earned allowances, implementation of the University Transparency Accountability Solution (UTAS) scheme, and promotion arrears among others 

“You will recall that the last decision we took, we even went to the extent of writing to President Muhammadu Buhari, we gave a 21-day notice for them to converge in a very high-powered meeting.

“We demanded that the meeting should be chaired either by the Secretary of Government of the Federation (SGF), or the Chief of Staff to the President, for this issue to be resolved once and for all.

“That meeting was called, but from the reports that I have been receiving from all the unions in the education sector, progress has not been made.

“The timeline of three weeks that was given to the committees for all reports to be turned in, and for the government to be able to take a concrete decision, has not been met,” Wabba expressed.

The president noted that the government was hesitant in meeting the demands of the unions including ASUU, ASUP, and COEASU among others.

“Therefore, the Central Working Committee has decided that there will be a one-day national protest.

“This is to call the attention of the government to resolve the issues immediately.

“We have also asked all our affiliates by the next one week to issue statements,” he added.

Wabba said the one-day nationwide protest was to advocate for children of the poor who have remained at home for a long time, adding that the increased social vices in the country are a result of the prolonged strike.