Saheed Ibrahim
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has directed its members to join the nationwide strike, which aligns with the directive from the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
A letter signed by ASUU’s National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, reads: “The Nigeria Labour Congress at a Joint National Executive Council of NLC and TUC directed all affiliate unions to commence the withdrawal of services with effect from November 14, 2023.
“As an affiliate of NLC, all members of our union are hereby directed to join this action of NLC to protect the interest of Nigerian workers and the leadership of the union.
“Zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons should immediately mobilise our members to participate in the action. A people united, cannot be defeated.”
The Labour Centres had announced the commencement of a nationwide strike.
The strike is to protest the battering of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero and some other executives of the congress in Owerri, Imo State, on November 1, as well as the pending labour issues in Imo State.
Ajaero was arrested by the police ahead of a state-wide protest in Imo, as disclosed by the NLC’s Head of Information, Benson Upah.
Meanwhile, the Congress of Nigerian University Academics has said that its members are not part of the ongoing nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
According to a statement signed by the National President, Niyi Sunmonu, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday, the union said it is not part of the strike as it was not consulted by the organising bodies NLC and TUC.
The statement read, “As at the moment of putting together this release, the TUC with whom CONUA submitted affiliation request has not communicated this position on strike action to it.
“Distinguished comrades should, therefore, note that CONUA cannot be part of the strike action that is not communicated to it. In addition, the affiliation process with the TUC has not been officially established.”
The labour unions on Monday had ordered their affiliates to withdraw their services nationwide from midnight on November 14, 2023.