Strike: NLC begins meeting with ASUU, other unions

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, has commenced a crucial meeting with leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and other unions in the tertiary education sector to address the ongoing nationwide strike and other unresolved labour issues.

The meeting, which is taking place at the NLC national headquarters in Abuja, also has in attendance representatives from the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, SSANIP, among others.

According to the NLC, the dialogue aims to find lasting solutions to the crisis in Nigeria’s higher education system, which has been plagued by prolonged instability and repeated industrial actions.

The engagement follows an invitation issued by the labour body to union leaders across tertiary institutions after negotiations between the Federal Government and the unions broke down.

ASUU had on Sunday declared a nationwide strike after a 14-day ultimatum to the government expired. The union’s National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, who announced the action during a press briefing at the University of Abuja, listed unresolved issues including staff welfare, poor infrastructure, unpaid salary arrears, and non-implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.

ASUU is demanding full implementation of the 2009 agreement, payment of three-and-a-half months of withheld salaries, sustainable university funding, protection against victimisation, payment of outstanding promotion arrears, and release of withheld cooperative and union deductions.