The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Ayuba Wabba, is warning that the country should brace up for an all-out 3-day strike by workers, if the federal government failed to reach an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Public universities have been shut for nearly six months after ASUU members downed tools on welfare-related matters and funding of the schools. Other non-academic unions also joined ASUU.
Wabba, spoke on Channels Television on the same day the workers’ union members began their two-day warning strike nationwide.
At the Lagos protest, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, was unsparing of the Muhammadu Buhari administration he accused of having caused untold hardship on Nigerians.
“The living standards of our people are getting worse by the day. We didn’t vote for a regime to cause hardship in Nigeria and that is what is going on…
“As we are gathered here today, terrorism has taken over our country. Hardship has taken over our country. Depression has taken over our country.
“Recession has taken over our country, but President Buhari is junketing all over the world. He’s already told Nigerians that he’s tired and he’s anxious to go home. We are therefore saying today that Buhari must go
“For the lecturers in our tertiary institutions and other workers, we are fully with you. Like our comrades have said this is a warning protest, #EndSars protest will be a child’s play, because we’re tired and frustrated and disenchanted. And I join our comrades in saying that enough is enough.
“Don’let them deceive you by saying there is no money in our country. It’s a lie.
“We reject the dubious economic programmes of this regime. We reject the neoliberal policy of this regime. We can’t continue promoting poverty in the midst of plenty.”
Wabba said on Sunrise Daily of Channels Television, “The two-day warning strike is to call for attention for the issues to be resolved promptly. The next level is a three-day national warning strike if nothing has happened after the protest, to show our grievances.
“We are not on a solidarity action, we are affected directly.
Responding to government position that the NLC strike is illegal, he said it is a constitutionally backed norm supported by the international charters.
“These are democratic norms everywhere in the world. Even as an individual, you have the right to air your grievances.
“It is within the provision of our law. It is backed by the United Nations charter for human and peoples rights, African charter for human and peoples rights, and it is there in our constitution — sections 39 and 40,” he said.
On the issue of Police permit for the protest, Wabba replied, “Even the court has pronounced that you don’t require any permission. It is legal and within your fundamental human rights to protest issues.
“When people say it’s illegal, I think people should remember that no condition is permanent. We have had some of our current politicians join the NLC to press for similar actions in the past.”
From Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, the protesters moved from the Stella Obasanjo library to the Governnent House, Lokoja amidst tight security to deliver a letter to the state governor.
Led by the Vice Chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo, the group with workers and students carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs met with the Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja.
Eleojo called on governnent to end the five- month strike by doing what was expected of it.
He told his host that the protest precedes the mega rally slated for Abuja on July 27, while urging Governor Yahaya Bello to use his office to persuade the federal government to work to end so that students could resume their studies.
Receiving the NLC letter from Eleojo, Onoja, on behalf of Governor Bello, commended members of the organised labour for embarking on the peaceful demonstration, not for selfish interest but for the good of Nigeria and its future leaders, adding that he was in full solidarity with the Nigerian students.
He promised to collaborate with other State Governors to continue to put pressure on the federal government to ensure that the strike was called off for the students to return back to school.
Members of the organised labour carried placards with different inscriptions such as: ”All our children cannot afford foreign education”; ”FG bring back our students on Campus”; ”FG should save University from collapse”.
Others were: ”Nimi Biggs Committee is Evil, disband Briggs committee”; ”Say no to salary disparity”; ”FG make Education a priority”; ”Enough is Enough, get our children back to school”;FG save our future, among others.
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