Meet ASUU demands or we join strike – NLC threatens

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, on Monday warned that it may join the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, if the Federal Government fails to address the demands of the striking lecturers by implementing the 2009 agreement both parties reached earlier.

The NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar, issued the threat at the opening ceremony of the “2013 Rain School” in Uyo.

He said, “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 percent teacher’s enhanced salaries, warning that “Should these strike persist, workers of Nigeria will not hesitate to join them in solidarity.”

According to Omar, 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 of making 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.


Read more: http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/07/24/meet-asuu-demands-or-we-join-strike-nlc-threatens/