NLC on Friday called on the federal government to implement all agreements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)
By Eugene Onyeji
The Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) on Friday called on the federal government to implement all agreements with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), especially the renegotiated FG-ASUU agreement in 2009, to safeguard future young Nigerians.
Following the federal government’s refusal to honor the terms of the renegotiated 2009 agreement with the ASUU signed since May 2021, the union again declared an indefinite nationwide strike beginning last Monday.
– Advertising –
Also read: ASUU begins month-long warning strike
Concerned by the continuing disagreement, NLC Chairman Comrade Ayuba Wabba said in a statement: “Regarding the ongoing warning strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), we wish to declare that the industrial present is very regrettable.
“Issues in dispute include the renegotiated 2009 agreement. The federal government took the draft agreement and promised to consult and come back to complete the signing. The federal government has not yet concluded the signing of the agreement. Moreover, the government has not yet honored the conditions agreed upon during the May 2021 agreement signed with the ASUU.
“In order to protect the future of our young people whose academic life is disrupted, we urge the federal government to implement all of the agreements it has reached with ASUU. Specifically, we call on the government to sign the renegotiated agreement with the ASUU.
“Furthermore, President Muhammadu Buhari had previously ordered that a Federal Government team meet with ASUU to resolve all outstanding issues. We call on the concerned MDAs to ensure that the President’s directive is rescinded immediately. to end the stalemate.
– Advertising –
“We understand that the current situation is the result of the hoarding of petroleum products. We call on all petrol traders to show sensitivity to the difficulties faced by the generality of Nigerians and ensure prompt discharge of petrol to consumers.
“We also call on relevant government regulatory agencies to curb the activities of unscrupulous petroleum traders who travel diabolical miles to make dishonest gains and to the detriment of their fellow citizens. We also declare that this situation strengthens our case for national oil refining,” the NLC said.
The NLC has urged relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that the government team should be resolved is lifted immediately to end the standoff.
