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| NLC president, Abdulwaheed Omar |
The labour union condemned the government’s unwielding stance.
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Monday threatened to join the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, in solidarity strike if the Federal Government fails to address the ASUU demands.
The NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar, made the threat at the opening ceremony of the “2013 Rain School” in Uyo.
The university lecturers have been on strike for over three weeks, paralysing activities in public universities. The lecturers want the government to implement the agreements both parties have had since 2009.
“We call on the Federal Government to have meaningful dialogue with ASUU with a view to implementing the agreement. The State Governments should equally obey the law and pay minimum wage to teachers and the local government workers as well as the 27.5 per cent teacher’s enhanced salaries.
“Should these strikes persist, workers of Nigeria will not hesitate to join them in solidarity,” he stressed.
Mr. Omar said the modules of the Rain School were designed to train members of affiliate unions and state councils of the NLC.
“This is in order to equip them with necessary skills to empower and protect their rights at workplace,” he said$
He said that the theme of the 2013 Rain School, “Strengthening the trade Union for Defence of Workers Rights,” was imperative due to the obvious violation of workers’ rights in the workplace and in the larger society.
The Chairman of the Akwa Ibom NLC chapter, Unyime Usoro, commended the leadership of the congress for keeping to its promise to make Uyo the permanent host of the school.
“On our own part, we intend to ensure that the standards set five years ago that led to the permanent hosting right is not lowered. It is significant to note that the government of Akwa Ibom has graciously approved the building of the permanent block for Rain Schools here in Uyo to gather for the training needs of the union leaders across the nation,” he said.
(NAN)