NASS reassured NLC of intervention in ASUU strike: The Nigerian legislature has reassured of prompt intervention in the face-off between the Federal Government and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Recall that leaders of both the Senate and the House of Representatives had on different occasions in recent past met with ASUU leaders with the assurances of funding solutions to the prolonged strike by university lecturers which has grounded activities in the nation’s Ivory tower.
The reassurance came on Wednesday when representatives of both the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila addressed representatives of the Nigerian workforce under the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) who marched in protest to the National Assembly to demand the reopening of universities and reformation of the education system.
Chairman, House Committee on Labour and Employment, Hon. Ali Wudil said the Green Chamber is not relenting in bringing solutions to the crisis in the education sector.
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He said the leadership of the House of Representatives has been in touch with the NLC since the inception of the protest by the workforce.
“Honestly, our mind is on how to resolve the ASUU strike. We have our input as representatives of Nigerians including workers”, he said.
Also, a representative from Edo State, Hon. Peter Akpaterson commended the NLC for coordinating the nationwide protest. He said the voice of workers cannot be repressed.
As a former President of NUPENG and a former Trustee of NLC, he said the NLC has approached the right and appropriate avenue to ventilate their grievances.
The Senate leadership was represented by both the Deputy Leader, Sen. Ajayi Borroffice and Sen. Chukwuka Utazi.
Borroffice said the Senate leadership identified with ASUU and Nigerian workers.
He said “there is no country in the world where students will be at home for months.
Senator Utazi said the National Assembly has been relentless in solving the crisis. “All of us in the parliament are speaking with one voice on the ASUU strike.
“We will give impetus to the demand and ensure that students go back to school”.
Leaders of various unions under the NLC took turns to address the workers who were decked in Tee- Shirts bearing names of their associations.
President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the workers were on the streets to protest the lockdown of Nigerian universities.
He lamented that the ruling class felt unconcerned by the plight of the Nigerian students because they have the opportunity of sending their wards abroad.
He said “children of the working class and the poor are those affected and we are asking the government through the parliament to take responsibility because leadership is about responsibility.
“The Nigerian education system is in comatose. The 2009 agreement between the government and ASUU has expired. Today, Nigerian university teachers are the least paid in Africa and that was what led to mass exodus of lecturers abroad.
“We want the parliament of the Nigerian people to take up the matter”.
Wabba however, threatened that should the government fail to resolve the issue urgently, NLC will commence a nationwide strike.
Photo Caption: A cross-section of protesting workers at the National Assembly on Wednesday
