…we are dismayed by the FG’s paralyses and reluctance to take the necessary steps – Orizu
…It is not about ASUU, it is about saving our universities – Ufoaroh
…. Our take home salaries can no longer take us home – Nwangwu
By: IFEANYI Okonkwo
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Anambra chapter today joined the national protest in solidarity to the lingering five months Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU strike.
Chairperson Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Anambra state chapter, Comrade Chinwe Orizu in her address, solicited the support of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to intervain in the dispute between the Federal Government (FG) and the unions in the tertiary education subsector.
In her words, “This dispute has manifested in a strike action for the past five months and has come to the huge cost of the students, the university staff, parents, government other strike holders and the entire country.
“Mr. Governor, we are dismayed by the FG’s paralyses and reluctance to take the necessary steps that could lead to the peaceful resolution of the issues in dispute and by extension end the strike.
“We have taken various initiatives to end these strike including writing to the minister of education and also Minister of labour and employment and the presidency”. Orizu revealed
Chairman Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Nnamdi Azikiwe (Unizik) chapter, Comrade Stephen Ufoaroh in an interview with newsmen said the protest is in support of the NLC’s in other to let the world know that our universities have been closed down for the past five months.
“Government has failed to fulfill the agreement they had with ASUU. We are here to join the protest. We are particularly involved because we are directly affected.
“It is not about ASUU, it is about saving our universities. It is about Nigerians taking back there country. It is about Nigerians fighting for there rights and insisting that education should be funded. Workers in the university system should be paid there salaries and have there entitlements”. Ufoaroh concluded
Chairperson Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) Comrade Njideka Nwangwu in an interview lamented over the lingering strike.
“The salary of university workers have remained the same. The funding of the state universities is very poor. We want the funds to be re-inforced. Our take home salaries can no longer take us home
Nwangwu who is also the SSANU National Treasurer South East zone said “We want FG to listen to our cries and do the needful so that our children can go back to school. Let them call for re-negotiation. President Muhammad Buhari has failed Nigerian works. This is not what we expected. Enough is enough’.
The protesters who came out in there large numbers where seen with different placards chanting solidarity songs.
The protest which is slated for two days will continue tomorrow in Abuja the federal capital.
