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The Nigeria Labour Congress and its affiliate unions on Tuesday defied warnings by the Federal Government and took to the streets of major cities in the country to protest against the failure of the Federal Government to resolve the five-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
The NLC stated specifically that the demands of ASUU could be met with the funds the two major political parties, the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, received through the sale of forms to candidates.
Uche Nweke, who spoke on behalf of NLC National Chairman Ayuba Wabba in Akwa Ibom, criticized justifications that there weren’t enough cash to meet the requests of the university workers.
“The revenue generated by the sale of nomination forms by the two major parties would be sufficient to support ASUU and colleges. We Nigerian employees are the most compassionate people. We urge the national leadership to heed the voice of reason, and they should do whatever it takes to send our kids back to school, the man stated.
Other states that saw protests in addition to Akwa Ibom were Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Kwara, Enugu, Benue, Sokoto, Lagos, and Plateau.
Last Monday, Dr. Chris Ngige, the minister of labor and employment, asserted that a security report issued to his office by the Department of State Services forewarned against staging the protest.
Additionally, Ngige stated in a March interview with Channels Television that the government lacked the resources to comply with ASUU’s demands, including cash for university revitalization.
The N1.3 trillion you’re referring to was promised by the (Goodluck) Jonathan administration, he said. At that time, oil was selling for between $100 and $120 a barrel, and the federation had a large revenue.
The unionists added that it had become essential for the existing government to resign after they expressed their rage over the Federal Government’s failure to address their complaints.
Due to the Federal Government’s incapacity to carry out the agreements it reached with ASUU in 2009 and the present administration’s refusal to exempt teachers from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, university lecturers shut down public institutions on February 14.
ASUU had also requested that the government improve tertiary institution funding and pay back arrears on allowances.
The protest will be against the government measures that prompted the strike, the NLC president had earlier stated in a conversation with journalists in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom.
The National Union of Air Transport Employees, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, civil society organizations, and other affiliated unions converged under the Ikeja Bridge in Lagos on Tuesday, clogging the streets with their members and causing traffic chaos.
The thronging protesters sang songs and held placards with messages such, “Stop importing gasoline. IPPIS damages our refineries; revive the refineries. Reduce the expense of governance; adopt UTAS right away. Save the people from starvation and poverty, stop the thieving, tax the rich, and help the needy, among other things.
Agnes Sessi, the chairman of the Lagos NLC, charged the federal government for ignoring education.
“It has almost been a year. Our kids are still living at home. An idle hand is the workbench of the devil. Unengaged kids will grow up to be internet scammers and prostitutes, she continued.
Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), a human rights attorney who participated in the demonstration, urged the Federal Government to use the looted money to fund education.
“We’ve had enough, and we’re telling the administration that. They have money; let them quit fooling our people. In order to remedy this issue, Buhari should extort money from ten robbers. One of them stole N119 billion just last week, and others have stolen more.
“In Abuja, they are distributing millions of dollars and paying delegations with dollars under the supervision of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
Falana claimed that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), continued to take unnecessary trips, such as his recent trip to Liberia, rather than staying home to address the issues facing the nation.
ASUU Zonal Chairman Dr. Adelaja Odukoya also spoke, stating that Nigerians must band together to put pressure on the government.
The demonstrators handed the governor a letter including all of their demands after marching from the Ikeja Bridge to the Lagos State Governor’s office.
The letter was delivered by the NLC Chairman on behalf of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State, to Mrs. Ponle Ajibola, the commissioner for establishments, training, and pensions.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers, The Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers’ Union of Nigeria, and other NLC affiliate unions also participated in the protest. The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions also attended.
Vincent Paul
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