The Nigeria Labour Congress has said its organs will meet and decide on the next line of action as the ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government over the looming industrial action in public tertiary institutions expires on Saturday (today).
The acting Secretary-General of the NLC, Benson Upah, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Friday.
The NLC, after a meeting with tertiary institution-based unions, resolved to give the Federal Government a one-month ultimatum to resolve the lingering crisis in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
“We have decided to give the Federal Government four weeks to conclude all negotiations in this sector. They have started talks with ASUU, but the problem in this sector goes beyond ASUU. That is why we are extending this to four weeks.
The era of signing agreements, negotiations and threatening the unions involved has come to an end,” the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said while briefing the press after the meeting with labour leaders.
With the expiration of the deadline on Friday, Upah told our correspondent that the NLC remained committed to industrial harmony in tertiary institutions.
He said, “In keeping with our pledge and in pursuance of our unflagging commitment to the noble causes of the unions in tertiary institutions, appropriate organs of the Congress will meet and decide on the next line of action. You’d be duly informed.”
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students has urged the Federal Government to ensure that necessary measures are taken to avert the looming strike in public universities.
Speaking with our correspondent, the Assistant Secretary-General of NANS, Adejuwon Olatunji-Emmanuel, called on the Federal Government to take “urgent, decisive, and lasting action” to address the issues surrounding the ongoing warning strike declared by ASUU.
