NLC suspends strike as ASUU embarks on nationwide strike.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has suspended its planned strike. The strike which was to commence today, Tuesday 6th of November was called off in the early hours of the day as the NLC executives and the federal government were able to reach an agreement concerning the proposed increase of minimum wage. The national chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba said the agreed figure would be made public after the committee has presented its report to the president today. The planned strike was set to affect all government agencies nationwide, including schools.
However, the university governing body, the Academic staff union of universities has commenced on an indefinite strike across all state and federal universities in the country due to the insincerity of the government in fulfilling its promises. The strike, described as total, is a result of the government not fulfilling the agreement reached between the ASUU representatives and the Federal government in 2009 and 2017. An agreement which primarily states that the higher institutions would be funded with N1.3 billion within a six year period was rescinded by the government with the federal government putting the blame on the economic downturn. The federal government claims that the agreement was reached when the nation was experiencing the oil boom and the recent drop in oil prices has put a strain on funding.
Despite this excuse, the National President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi while speaking on Channels Television programme, Sunrise, said: “We have concluded that promises from the government are very cheap, we are not bothered about what promises the government makes now”. However, some institutions have chosen to boycott the strike action, with University of Ilorin and Kwara State University taking fore-front. This indefinite strike renders under-graduates across the federation helpless, as the academic calendar is put on hold.