By Our Reporter
The clash between the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is set to escalate, as major unions in tertiary institutions close ranks with NLC. ASUU, currently on a ‘warning’ strike, has given the government a four-week deadline to resolve longstanding issues or face total shutdown.
At the NLC’s behest, a formidable coalition has emerged, uniting ASUU, SSANU, NASU, NAAT, ASUP, SSANIP, COEASU, and ASURI. During a joint press conference, NLC President Joe Ajaero declared: “The era of signing agreements and threatening the unions involved, that era has come to an end. The policy of no work, no pay, will henceforth be ‘no pay, no work’. You can’t benefit from an action you instigated!”
Union leaders accuse the government of lacking negotiating seriousness, often sending representatives with no real mandate. “Never again. We will not condone this,” Ajaero underscored.
The coalition demands educational funding in line with UNESCO’s 26 percent recommendation and respect for effective wage bargaining.
ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, asserted the new alliance was essential, as the government shows a pattern of reneging on agreements and using divisive tactics.
The NLC warns that if after four weeks talks fail, national industrial action will follow, with Ajaero adding: “You can’t beat the child and ask the child not to cry.”
Leaders from allied unions, including SSANU’s Mohammed Ibrahim, have pledged unbreakable support, foreshadowing the possibility of a sweeping, sector-wide shutdown.
make sure that we are able to find a lasting solution on the problems that they have been facing all these years.
“We have decided to establish a framework for engagement towards implementation of agreements, outstanding agreements, and towards sustainable funding of education, in line with UNESCO principles of 25 percent, 26 percent funding of education, and review of wage structures and allowances in the tertiary institutions, and as well as respect for collective bargaining.
“On this regard, we discovered that those governments sent to meetings go there without mandate. Henceforth, nobody, the trade unions, either in the tertiary institutions or anywhere, will not go into any meeting with government representatives who don’t have mandates. Well, that is what is at the point of this crisis.
“You go and finish a negotiation, you sign an agreement, and then you go back to the NEC. Never again. We will not condone this at all over the world.
“Agreements are held in very serious dimension. Development of coordinated team. We have agreed to set up a coordinated team and then ensure that we embark on national campaign, henceforth.
“But to conclude it, we have decided to give the Federal Government four weeks to conclude all negotiation in this sector. They have started talks with us, but the problem in this sector goes beyond us or one union. All other sectors, all other unions are equally involved.
“That is why we are extending this to four weeks. If after four weeks this negotiation is not concluded, the organs of the NLC will meet and take a nationwide action that all workers in the country, all unions in the country will be involved so that we get to the root of all this.
“The era of signing agreements and threatening the unions involved, that era has come to an end.
“The policy, the so-called policy of no work, no pay, will henceforth be “no pay, no work”. You can’t benefit from an action you instigated. We have discovered that 90% of strike actions in this country are caused by failure to obey agreements.
“You can’t refuse to obey agreements and you punish the other party. So it’s a problem of cause and effect. So the person that caused the problem will be ready to bear the consequence. You can’t beat the child and ask the child not to cry”.
Following Ajaero’s remarks, ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, said the alliance became necessary because the government has consistently reneged on agreements and employed divisive tactics in its dealings with unions in the sector.
He pledged ASUU’s full commitment to the “one-voice, one-action” alliance aimed at compelling the government to honour its agreements and treat workers fairly.
On his part, SSANU National President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim, reaffirmed his union’s total support for the alliance and its unity of purpose.
Leaders of NASU, NAAT, ASUP, SSANIP, COEASU, and other tertiary education-based unions also reaffirmed their commitment to the alliance. Please reduce to seven paragraphs, while still retaining the vital quotation. Make it succinct, punchy, and give a slightly controversial headline. Thanks