ASUU: Aviation workers to join proposed July 26, 27 NLC nationwide strike, as VCs meet

Workers in the aviation sector of the economy, under the aegis of the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), have aligned with the proposed nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in solidarity with the protesting members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Federal universities’ lecturers have been on an industrial action for over five months over demands on the Federal Government to implement contents of a Memorandum of Action reached between both parties.

Already, the NLC had, last weekend, declared Tuesday, July 26 and 27 to protest the lingering ASUU strike and the consequent closure of public universities in the country.

The NLC faulted the Federal Government’s purported rejection of the Nimi-Briggs Committee report, over its claims of alleged disparity between the pay rise allocated to academic and non-academic staff of universities.

NLC in a circular to its state councils and affiliates dated July 15, 2022 and signed by its President and General Secretary, Ayuba Wabba and Emma Ugboaja, respectively, said the protest is to take place in all the state capitals and Abuja, starting from NLC’s secretariats.

Among others, the protest is aimed at pressurizing the Federal Government to conclude negotiations with striking universities unions and ensure that public universities resume for normal activities.

Reacting to the NLC proposed nationwide strike, the aviation workers vowed to shut down the sector in solidarity with university teachers.

A to that effect, signed by the General Secretary of ANAP, Comrade Abdulrasaq Saidu, furthercalled on President Mohammadu Buhari to end the strike without further delay.

ANAP noted that the continued stay at home by students of tertiary institutions has added to social vices in the country as students now engaged in some unpalatable activities capable of destroying their future.

ANAP, therefore, threatened that they will join in the strike in solidarity by closing the aviation sector if government did not take urgent necessary steps to address ASUU’s demands, even as it noted that the over four-month strike has ridiculed the educational system and making it a laughing stock before the world.

According to the aviation workers’ union, ‘ASUU, NASU, SAUTHRIAI, NAAT had been on strike for more than four months due to the apparent failure of government to sign the re-negotiated 2009 Agreement with ASUU, failure to honour the terms reached at in May 2022 MoU signed with ASUU, and habitual failure of government to respect Collective Bargaining Agreements willingly signed with labour Unions.’

ANAP observed that ‘not only the students were suffering but parents and the society, the poor economy has also affected every home in the country.’

“Our children are using eight years to read courses of four years with resources being wasted. We cannot continue this way,” it stated.

The union warned that its members will align with the NLC’s position on protest against the unfortunate situation in the tertiary education sector, adding that all its members ‘have been put on alert in solidarity actions on the directive of Nigeria Labour Congress at very short notice.’

Meanwhile, the National Universities Commission (NUC) says it is poised to promote dialogue and constructive engagement with critical stakeholders, as it supervises crisis free university system.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Adamu Rasheed stated this in Abuja during the opening session of the 2022 management retreat with Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities organised by the Commission.

Prof. Rasheed said that the retreat must identify and support on-going efforts by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, the Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders, in ensuring stability and put an end to on-going strike in the countries public universities.

According to the NUC Executive Secretary, “our universities have been confronted with uncertainties due to the unfortunate strike, ASUU strike is in the six month and as vice-chancellors we know the negative consequences of the prolong closure of universities, we know what it means in-terms of its effect on the economy of a nation ,as vice chancellors we know what it means in-terms of our institutional reputation and the future of our youths,” Prof. Rasheed said.

He, therefore, called on the vice chancellors to ensure that universities fulfill their primary roles and their mandate adding that they must take up the challenge through competence and resolutions.

“Nigerian universities must fulfill their primary roles and fulfill their extant laws.

“The NUC sympathizes with the vice chancellors we know how difficult the task of being a VC. Nobody is happy with the VC of a university, students are not happy that the VC cannot provide electricity, lecturers are also not happy because their pockets are low, even the communities as well,. The vice chancellors face serious challenges and road blocks to achieve the success of their mandates,” Prof Rasheed said.

He however said that the retreat will feature wide range discussion of issues from challenges to solutions while the vice chancellors also come up with recommendations that strengthen the Nigerian university system.

Immediately after the opening session of the retreat, some of the Vice chancellors accompanied the Executive Sec of NUC to crucial stakeholders’ meeting scheduled to hold in Abuja, to end the 6 month-old ASUU strike.