By Mahdi Waziri Isa
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has thrown its weight behind the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in an escalating row with the federal government, declaring that attempts to intimidate the lecturers will fail amid a fresh two-week warning strike.
In a strongly worded press release issued today, NLC President Joe Ajaero accused the government of chronic underfunding and a blatant refusal to honour agreements reached with university lecturers and workers, actions he said are “undermining public tertiary institutions.”
“The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is deeply concerned by the persistent crisis in Nigeria’s public education sector, marked by the chronic underfunding and a public education system’s continued refusal to implement honour agreements voluntarily reached with lecturers and workers,” the release stated.
The NLC further added, “The breach of contract lies with the State, not with the scholars. The lecturers are willing to work, but the government, by reneging on its commitments, has made it impossible for them to do so with the dignity and conditions their profession deserves. The core principle remains: No Pay, No Work.”
NLC described the dispute as more than an isolated labor issue, highlighting its ripple effects on Nigeria’s social fabric.
“This struggle extends beyond an isolated industrial dispute. It reflects a broader societal issue. While the children of the elite attend private institutions or study abroad, the children of the working class attend public schools that are systematically weakened,” the statement continued.
Ajeoro called on the federal government to immediately reconvene negotiations and fulfill its obligations, emphasizing that ASUU’s resolve cannot be broken by intimidation tactics.
ASUU launched the warning strike as a direct consequence of the government’s failure to address long-standing demands, including better funding for universities and implementation of renegotiated agreements, an action the NLC described as “a necessary response to the neglect of a fundamental pillar of our society.”
