The Federal Government has warned the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to halt its planned solidarity nationwide protest against the continued strike action by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, notified state house correspondents on Wednesday after a Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr Mohammed noted that the NLC had no issues with the federal government, hence its planned street protest was illegal.
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He insisted that Congress’s planned action was based on self-interest, and was capable of stoking anarchy, advising the body to separate itself from politics.
Earlier in a letter dated July 15 and addressed to chairpersons of the NLC in the states, the congress’ national president, Ayuba Wabba stated the protest is aimed at what he described as getting; “our children back to school and support our unions in Nigeria’s public universities fighting for quality education.”
Takeoff points for the protest were the Labour House in the federal capital territory (FCT) and the secretariats of the NLC.
“We bring you fraternal greetings from the national secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
“In line with the decisions of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress held on the 30th of June 2022, we have scheduled as follows the National Days of Protest to get our children back to school and support our unions in Nigeria’s public universities fighting for quality education,” the letter read,” Wabba said.
Some student bodies in response to this declaration have announced their support for the planned action.
The Deputy National President of NAUS, Mohammed Ibrahim, in a statement dated July 17, implored students across the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory to join in the march to end the five-month strike.
“The NLC’s announcement of her resolution to stage a nationwide protest is greatly welcomed in the students’ constituency. For us, this is nothing short of a miracle; a heavenly intervention which would not have been at a better time than now. We are therefore prepared and ever ready to join in this great solidarity movement with the NLC.
“Sequel to the above, NAUS shall be part of the protest nationwide to demand the immediate resolution of issues between the Federal Government and ASUU so our students can go back to classes,” it read.
