NLC Threatens To Join ASUU Strike

As the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU lingers, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has threatened to join the Union in solidarity strike if the Federal Government failed to address its demands. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the “2013 Rain School” in Uyo, NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar urged the Federal Government to honour the agreement.

“We call on the Federal Government to have meaningful dialogue with ASUU with a view to implementing the agreement. “The state governments should equally obey the law and pay minimum wage to teachers and the local government workers as well as the 27.5 per cent teacher’s enhanced salaries. “Should these strikes persist, workers of Nigeria will not hesitate to join them in solidarity,” he stressed. According to Omar, the modules of the rain school were designed to train members of affiliate unions and state councils of the NLC. “This is in order to equip them with necessary skills to empower and protect their rights at workplace.” Omar said that the theme of the 2013 Rain School was imperative due to the obvious violation of workers’ rights in the workplace and in the larger society. Also speaking at the ceremony, Chairman, Akwa Ibom State NLC, Mr Unyime Usoro, commended the leadership of the NLC for keeping to its promise on making Uyo the permanent host of the school. “On our own part, we intend to ensure that the standards set five years ago that led to the permanent hosting right is not lowered,” he said. “It is significant to note that the government of Akwa Ibom has graciously approved the building of the permanent block for Rain Schools here in Uyo to gather for the training needs of the union leaders across the nation”.