National blackout as electricity workers join NLC-ASUU mass protest today

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed that nothing would stop its planned protest rallies across the country commencing today to force Federal Government to heed to the demand of workers in the education sector.

It said it has fully mobilised all its affiliates both in the private and public sectors for a total shut down of all the sectors as it holds a two day solidarity protest in support of the ongoing strike in the educational sector.

The Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) has threatened to shut down the airports while the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) in a letter with reference, NUEE/NS/2022/008, titled, “Nigeria Labour Congress/ASUU Solidarity Protest,” dated July 22, said electricity workers would join in the protest to kick against the prolonged closure of tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

According to the General Secretary, NUEE, Joe Ajaero, “All members of the union are enjoined to massively mobilise and actively participate in the NLC/ASUU solidarity protest against the continued closure of the nation’s tertiary institutions, schedule for July 26/27, 2022.

“You are encouraged to work with the leadership of State Executi Councils of the congress in your various states with a view having a successful outing. Aluta Continua.”

This is in spite of appeals by the Federal Government and security alert by the DSS that the NLC shelves the planned nationwide protest.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been at war with the Federal Government since February 14 over failure to honour some past agreements, among others.

The disagreement has kept students of most public universities at home for the past five months. Some other unions in the university system are also on strike due to disagreements with the Federal Government for different reasons.

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba told Daily Sun the two-day action would begin today in all the 36 states while the national would hold tomorrow in Abuja. He said Congress was confident that it would be a success as all the state councils and affiliates were fully mobilised and charged for the action.

The Joint Action Committee of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions (NASU) equally expressed readiness to take the lead in the protest.

Spokesman of JAC and General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi, said since government has failed to resolve the impasse, the unions would no longer keep quiet. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the Prof. Nimi-Briggs-led committee’s report submitted to the government for approval.

Adeyemi said the committee’s negotiations processes were biased as its members were not duly involved and did not endorse the 10 percent salary increase purportedly recommended in the report.

The committee was set up in March by the government to oversee the negotiations with the four university-based unions.