The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have called for a nationwide strike, which is supported by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Emmanuel Osodeke, President of ASUU, encouraged members to take part in the industrial action as a show of support for the larger labour movement.This decision came after the NLC said on Monday that the strike would start at midnight on November 13.
The coordinated strike by the unions is a reaction to the November 1 attack in Imo State on NLC President Joe Ajaero and other officials, as well as ongoing labour disputes in Imo. ASUU has made the decision to participate in the strike notwithstanding a restraining order issued by the Nigerian National Industrial Court.
In response to an ex-parte appeal by the Nigerian government through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the court ordered the NLC and TUC to stop the industrial action.
“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,” ASUU President Osodeke said in a letter to branch chairpersons and zonal coordinators urging adherence to the national strike.
ASUU expressed its concerns about the “deepening socio-economic crises” in Nigeria and linked them to President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s adoption of “neo-liberal economic policies.”
The union focused on problems including the depreciation of the Naira, the difficulties brought on by the deregulation of petroleum product prices, and the growing expense of life.
ASUU also voiced its displeasure with the government’s inability to comply with its demands, which included changing the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act, removing federal universities from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), and revitalising universities in addition to granting autonomy and academic freedom.
The union demanded that the renegotiation process conclude in accordance with the recommendations of the Professor Nimi Briggs Committee and that the funds allotted for the payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) be released.
ASUU objected to President Bola Tinubu’s decision to dissolve university Governing Councils and denounced the requirement that federal universities give the government forty percent of their Internally Generated Funds (IGF).
Additionally, ASUU denounced the NUC for putting the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) into effect and vowed to take the rejection of CCMAS all the way to the end.
The union promised to oppose any attempt to politicise justifiable demands and vehemently denounced the attack on NLC President Joe Ajaero in Imo State.
ASUU demanded that the government unconditionally release all delayed salaries, notwithstanding the recent release of four of the eight months’ withheld salaries. The union emphasised the necessity of a long-term resolution of unresolved concerns pertaining to the previous strike action.