Prevail on FG to end ASUU strike

The Kogi state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress has requested the Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello to prevail upon the federal government to ending the prolonged strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

Members of NLC in a solidarity walk to the Kogi state government house in Lokoja earlier today presented their demands to the Governor for the strike action to be called off by the aggrieved lecturers.

Comr Opaluwa Eleojo who represented the NLC state Chairman, Onuh Edoka, stated that ASUU had shut all public universities and commenced its ongoing strike on February 14, after the FG failed to meet with some of its demands.

The demands he noted are the release of revitalisation funds for universities, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, release of earned allowances for university lecturers, and deployment of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution platform for the payment of salaries and allowances of university lecturers.

Comr Opaluwa charged governor Bello to rally his colleagues to convince the federal government to respond to the people’s cry by meeting the demands of ASUU and to allow their children back to school.

Responding, the Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who was represented by his deputy Chief Edward Onoja, described the situation as painful. He said for any nation that wants to succeed, priority must be given to education, adding that the faceoff between ASUU and the federal government is long overdue.

Governor Bello confirmed that the federal government and other stakeholders are doing all they can to address all issues raised, assuring the labour leaders that his administration will put pressure on the federal government to put a lasting solution to strike action in Nigeria.

He commended the state chapter of the labour union for its productive partnership with the government, stressing he will continue to do more in ensuring that workers in the state continue to enjoy improved welfare.