‘Enough Is Enough’: NLC Threatens Nationwide Strike

• The NLC has given the Federal Government a four-week ultimatum to resolve issues in the tertiary education sector or face a nationwide strike.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government of Nigeria to conclude all ongoing negotiations in the tertiary education sector.

Speaking at an emergency press conference on Monday in Abuja, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the decision followed years of unfulfilled agreements and chronic underfunding of Nigeria’s educational institutions.

“We have decided to give the Federal Government four weeks to conclude all ongoing negotiations in the sector,” Ajaero stated.

He warned that failure to meet the deadline would trigger a nationwide action involving all workers and unions across the country.

“After four weeks, if no meaningful progress is made, the organs of the NLC will meet and take a nationwide action that will involve all workers and all unions in the country,” he added.

Ajaero lamented that recurring strikes and instability in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education have been worsened by the government’s failure to honour past agreements.

He announced that the congress had created a framework for engagement with education unions to push for better funding, improved welfare, and implementation of outstanding agreements.

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“We are committed to ensuring that education in Nigeria receives adequate attention and sustainable funding in line with the minimum benchmark of 25 per cent budgetary allocation,” Ajaero said.

The NLC president also faulted the government’s negotiation approach, accusing officials of attending meetings without proper mandates to make binding decisions.

“It is unacceptable for officials to attend talks without the authority to make binding commitments. This practice has contributed to the recurring crises in the sector,” he added.

Ajaero reaffirmed that the NLC would defend workers’ rights and ensure the era of unkept agreements comes to an end.

“We will not fold our arms while our education system suffers. If the government fails to act, we will mobilise all unions to demand justice and fairness,” he declared.