THE Joint Action Front (JAF) has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to put to action their threat of a nationwide solidarity strike if the federal government failed to resolve issues that led to the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
In a statement signed by its Secretary, Comrade Biodun Aremu, and Deputy Chairperson, Comrade Achike Chude, JAF wondered why the government is yet to resolve the crisis despite President Buhari’s directive three weeks ago, the two-day nationwide protest by the NLC.
Condemning what it described as the unserious attitude of the government towards implementing agreements it reached with unions, especially with public university unions – ASUU, NASU, SSANU and NAAT – JAF called on the countries two labour centres, the NLC and TUC, to go ahead and declare a two-day general strike.
“JAF, therefore, urges the NLC and TUC to declare a 48-hour general strike to save public education and demand urgent action from the government to deal with the cost of living crisis and improve the living conditions of all workers. We urge that such a general strike should be preceded by mass leafleting, public meetings and rallies across the country in order to build support for workers and the oppressed masses,” JAF’s statement reads.
It further said: “For more than two weeks after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) mass protest and over three weeks that President Buhari ordered the Minister of Education to resolve the strike actions embarked upon by workers in public universities sector, it is unfortunate that the Federal Government is yet to reach an agreement that will resolve the strike actions by the university unions. While the universities have been shut down for over 180 days, the attitude of the President Buhari (administration) does not show that it is ready to sincerely meet the demands of the striking workers.”
