In solidarity with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, and a bid to address the deplorable state of the education sector in the country, the Nigeria Labour Congress has staged a nation wide protest over the continuous shutting down of the federal universities by the Academic Staff Union of universities due to the non implementation of the 2009 agreement between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of universities. The rally started at unity fountain and terminated at the National Assembly with workers carrying play cards of various inscriptions that based described their grievances.
Speaking in Abuja at the rally, the President Nigeria labor Congress Comrade Ayubba wabba said that the future is doomed for any country who does not priortise its education section.
Ayubba further attributed the security challenges bedeviling the country, to the high level of illiteracy and poverty.
Noting that most of those at the helm of affairs currently were beneficiaries of a thriving education sector in the past as they enjoyed free and quality education
Wabba also wrote off insinuations by the Federal Government that their rally will lead to civil disturbances, saying on the contrary the actions of the government are fueling social disturbances.
He said nowhere in the world that protesters denied their right to protest except in Nigeria.
He also criticised the no work no pay policy of the government with respect to the ongoing strike in the universities, describing such actions as draconian laws.
Ayubba added that if the mega protest does not yield positive result, NLC would not hesitate to embark on a nation wide strike.
The NLC President later presented to the Green and Red Chambers a document containing their demands on how to bring to an end, the ongoing strike in Nigerian universities.
In their responses, Hon. Ali Wudil and Senator Ajayi Borofice who represented the Speaker House of Representatives and Senator President respectively, promised a timely and prompt intervention on the matter.
They stated that since the beginning of the strike action, the National Assembly has been consulting relevant stakeholders with a view to ending the crises.
The lawmakers assured the protesting unions that the National Assembly would invite all the stakeholders to sit down and see how the crises could be resolved.
Among the unions which had downed tools for over 170 days is the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, the Non Academic Staff Union of University and Allied Institutions, NASU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT.
The protest attracted civil society groups, Past Students Union leaders, NANS and prominent Nigerians including Senator Shehu Sani.
