ASUU strike: Ebonyi NLC accuses Buhari, Umahi of betrayal

By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ebonyi State chapter, on Tuesday, during a protest, accused the federal government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, and Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi, of betrayal.

The state chairman of the NLC, Mr. Ikechukwu Nwafor, led leaders and members of other affiliate unions from various varsities and the 13 Local Government Areas of the state in the protested round the state capital.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions: “ASUU demands FG to give us better pay package”, “FG: deploy UTAS in full that will accommodate the peculiarity of the university”, “FG: Improved welfare is our right”, “FG: bring our children back to school”, “FG: No going back on this struggle; Aluta continua, Victoria arceta”, etc.

Nwafor said: “Federal Government has betrayed the educational sector, and Ebonyi State Government, led by Governor David Umahi, has also betrayed the workers of Ebonyi State.

“We stand to say that those who betrayed the workers of the state will himself be betrayed.”

The chairmen of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, especially that of Ebonyi State University, FUNAI, Ebonyi College of Education, among others who spoke to journalists during the protest said the strike would continue until their demands were met by federal government and Ebonyi State Government, respectively.

Some of the ASUU chairmen; FUNAI and EBSU, Mr. Egwu Oguaga and Mr. Ikechukwu Okorie, said: “We are here today to call for emancipation of our country from the hands of those who want to kill it.

“The main purpose of this struggle is to tell Nigerians that we have government that is insensitive to the plights of Nigerian people.

“In five months, university lecturers are at home and we cannot teach our students.

“The lecturers are not well taken care of. This strike must continue until our demands are met.”