… urge Governor Soludo to join forces to reopen universities
By Joseph Albert (Umunna TV)
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and affiliate bodies in Anambra State, today, 26th July, joined others across the country in a solidarity protest against lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU.
For the past five months, students in Nigeria public universities have been out of school over inability of the union and the federal government to reach compromise on issues raised by ASUU members.
Some of the demands of the unions during the protest were visibly displayed in banners and placards, such as “We want our children back to school”, “NASU demands negotiation of 2009 agreement”, “End ASUU strike” among others.
Addressing journalists after the protest at Dr Alex Ekwueme square and popular Aroma junction Awka, the Anambra State Chairperson of NLC, Comrade Chinwe Orizu explained that ASUU has taken various steps to end the lingering strike, including writing letters to Education, Labour and Employment Ministers, as well as the Presidency, regretting that responses from them have not helped in reopening the universities.
While expressing worry over unpaid salaries of the university staff, despite high cost of living in the nation, Comrade Orizu described the protest as a means of compelling government to take steps to reopen the universities, and appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to join forces with NLC to compel federal government to bring an end to the lingering strike.
Adding his voice, the ASUU Chairman, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Mr. Steve Ufoaroh, explained that the lingering strike was to press home their demands for a better university system, and thanked NLC for joining forces to ensure that agreements between the striking ASUU and federal government are resolved, with a view to reopening the universities.
While some of the protesters, including the Anambra State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu represented by the Vice President, Comrade Ngozi Obileri, and the Vice President of Radio, Television, Theater and Art Workers Union, RATTAWU, Prince Emeka Kalu, said the lingering strike has multiple effects on the society, such as exposing children to crime and other societal ills, some university students, including Amaka Ike, David Ileka and Smart Ubochi, said the strike should continue till further notice to enable them make enough money from the menial jobs they are doing presently.
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