Labour urges FG to expedite Action On University Resumption.

The Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), Kano chapter, has urged the Nigerian government to speed up actions on the ongoing negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, in the country for classes to resume for human and economic development.

The Kano state Chairman of the (NLC) comrade Ado Minjibir stated this while presenting the congress’s protest letter to the Kano state Governor at the Government House, Kano State, North Western, Nigeria.

He said the five months old strike, which stems from issues of the federal government not honouring agreements, the unacceptability of the IPPS payment platform, the Established framework for the revitalization of public Universities as well as Payment of all outstanding salaries and allowances should be promptly resolved.

“We appeal to the governor to use his good office to intervene for the issues to be resolved so that the students can go back to classes,” he said.

He Commended Ganduje for continuous payment of lecturer’s salaries in the two state-owned Universities despite the Federal Government’s stoppage of ASUU salaries nationwide, under the “No Work No Pay” policy.

He said the protest is a peaceful one in support of ASUU, as directed by the National Headquarters of the congress, commending participants and security of operatives for their conduct.

Kano State Governor Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje after receiving the state leadership, the NLC and the protest letter, said the crisis must be resolved to save the educational system in the country, assuring that the 36 state governors in Nigeria are working in that direction.

“This crisis must be resolved to help save the system. We don’t want system collapse in this country at all.

“The striking University lecturers are in the strike action “… to save the system from collapsing.

“Myself and my colleagues from all the 36 states, irrespective of our party differences are concerned about the prolonged strike action and we will put our heads together to bring an end to the crisis.” he said

The protesters, which consisted of ASUU members, students’ bodies, civil society groups, youth organisations, human rights activists, among others, all spoke in favour of ASSU, before arriving at the Government.

They marched through the streets of Kano beginning from the Mundabawa roundabout on Hadeja Road carrying placards with various inscriptions such as:

“Enough is Enough”, “Our children have the right to education”, “Education is a right and not a privilege, Get our children back to school now and end the strike!!! “Give our children hope, end the strike now”

The National Association of Nigeria Students, (NANS), urged members to collaborate with ASUU for their demands to be met so that academic activities can resume without hitches.

Olusola Akintonde