The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday shun the appeal by the Federal Government against its two-day nationwide protest, as protests by the labour union rocked different states in the country.
The protests were embarked upon by NLC in solidarity with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and other affiliate unions over the lingering industrial action in public universities in Nigeria.
Federal Government at the weekend had pleaded with NLC to cancel its planned protest over the prolonged strike by the ASUU and other university-based unions scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
The appeal was made by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, during a meeting with the leadership of NLC in his office.
He said he incorporated NLC into the tripartite conciliation going on in his Ministry, adding that being very much aware of the efforts of the government to resolve the impasse, they cannot embark on any rally or protest.
But despite the appeal by the Federal Government, NLC members in different states in Nigeria trooped out in their thousands to embark on the two-day nationwide protests.
Speaking on the nationwide protest, the National President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the national days of protest were in support of unions in Nigeria’s public universities who are fighting for quality education.
“In line with the decisions of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Labour Congress held on the 30th of June 2022, we have scheduled as follows the national days of protest to get our children back to school and support our unions in Nigeria’s public universities fighting for quality education.
“You are requested to immediately convene the meetings of your SAC to disseminate this information and to fully mobilise workers in the states for this very important protest for good governance,” Comrade Wabba said in the circular jointly signed by the NLC general secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja.
In line with the agreement, labour unions on Tuesday stormed the streets of Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Gombe, Abia, Kwara and other states with placards emblazoned with different inscriptions, calling on the Federal Government to resolve the lingering ASUU strikes.
Some protesters also used the ongoing protests to call on Federal Government and state governments to address some of the lingering crises and problems in different parts of the country, among which are the ASUU strike, insecurity, economic challenges and an increase in fuel price, among other issues.
The protests in different parts of the country were peaceful as security operatives provide adequate security for the protesters.
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