The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC Anambra State Council joined her counterparts across the federation to embark on a two-day protest to register idispleasure over the lingering ASUU strike and other pressing issues affecting the country.
for the past five months, students in mostly federal universities have been out of schools as a result of the inability of the federal government and ASUU to reach compromise on issues raised by the latter.
Labour is worried also that salaries of Universities staff are withheld by government, despite the high cost of living in the nation.
Addressing journalists after the protest which took place at Ekwueme’s Boulevard and popular Arroma Junction, the Anambra State Chairperson of NLC, Comrade Chinwe Orizu said that the union has taken various initiatives to end the strike including writing to the Ministers of Education, Labour and Employment and the presidency, but regretted that responses elicited from them have not resolved the issues.
She said that the protest was to compel the federal government to rise up to the occasion, and appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to use his office to get the federal government to bring to an end the ASUU strike.
The ASUU Chairman , Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Mr. Steve Ufoaroh, and the Chairman of Non Academic Staff Union of the University, Comrade Chukwuagozie Ikegulu, said the strike was to press home their demands for better university system, and reinforcement of functional education system, thanking NLC for standing up with them to ensure proper education of the younger generations.
The Anambra State Chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalists, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu represented by the Vice President, Comrade Ngozi Obileri, and the Vice President, Radio, Television, Theater and Art Workers Union, RATTAWU, Prince Emeka Kalu, said the lingering strike has multiple effects on the society, including exposing children to crime and societal ills.
Some of the demands of the unions were visibly inscribed in their banners and placards, such as “we want our children back to school, NASU demands negotiation of 2009 agreement and End ASUU strike among other inscriptions .
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