The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has pledged to join Nigeria Labour Congress’ planned protest against shutdown of Nigerian public universities.
This follows t prolonged ASUU, NASU and SSANU industrial actions that have left activities in tertiary institutions paralyzed for more than four months.
NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, had, on July 1, said that the NLC would embark on a nationwide protest if the strike persists.
The strike by ASUU has been on for almost five months since it began on February 14.
A statement signed by its National President, Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, joined others to condemn the lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government towards finding a lasting solution to the crisis.
Read also: NUPENG To Down Tools Over Attack On NLC In Kaduna
“We are deeply worried that the strike has left thousands of university students stranded and idle, making some of them susceptible to go into various social vices and crimes, thus truncating what otherwise should have been wonderful assets and blessings to our great nation and humanity.”
The union described the strike as “unfortunate and a sad” commentary on the level of governance and sensitivity of the political leaders, adding that it showed the insensitivity of the current administration towards promoting and projecting good and quality education.
“We are seriously concerned that instead of addressing the nagging issues in the educational sector, the unscrupulous politicians are busy campaigning and wasting resources over 2023 general elections.
“It is against this background that NUPENG demands together with other trade unions, that the Federal Government must immediately address and resolve all demands of ASUU, NASU and SSANU without any further delay to avert national solidarity actions from our members across the country,” the statement said.
The statement further said that the rank-and-file members of NUPENG aligned with the NLC’s position on protest against the unfortunate situations in the tertiary education sector and would not hesitate to join in the proposed nationwide strike on the matter.
“A stitch in time saves nine. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. We are by copy of this press statement putting all our members on alert to be in solidarity actions on the directive of Nigeria Labour Congress at very short notice. Our Solidarity remains constant, for the Union makes us strong,” the union said.
ASUU replies Buhari’s ‘enough is enough’ comment
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to meet with the Prof. Nimi Briggs-led Committee on negotiation, following his latest ‘enough is enough’ comments.
ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osekede, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Recall that the Briggs committee, which was set up by the Federal Government on June 7, is renegotiating the 2009 Agreement with ASUU and will submit its report to the Education Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu in three months.
Buhari had, in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, saying, “truly, enough is enough for keeping students at home.’’
He spoke while receiving governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), legislators and political leaders at his residence in Daura, Katsina State, on Monday.
Reacting to the development, Osedeke said: “I do not understand why Mr President said that ‘enough is enough’, when we are not the one delaying the students at home.
“The federal government had sent its team to negotiate with us and we have finished. Instead of coming back to us to tell us the outcome of the meeting, we are hearing this.
“If you set up a committee to negotiate on your behalf, and the committee has finished and they have brought the information to you to sign and then you said enough is a enough, what does this mean.’’
Also reacting, ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Lagos, Dr. Adelaja Odukoya, in a statement on Tuesday, attributed the five months old strike to the inability of President Buhari’s government to resolve the issues.
He described the President’s comment as a mere wishful thinking, stressing that the struggle to reposition the public university education in Nigeria would continue.
The statement reads in part, “Mr. President, saying that enough is enough is mere wishful thinking and will not resolve the present decadence in our universities nor stop the present struggle to reposition our public universities.
“For the records, Mr. President, enough will not be enough in the struggle to reposition the public university education in Nigeria under this present administration and beyond as long as; the Nigerian public universities are reduced to a glorified secondary schools for the production of poor quality and globally uncompetitive, rejected and unemployable graduates and Nigerian academics remain one of the poorest paid scholars not only in Africa but the world.”
