Schools Shut, Students Stranded As ASUU Down Tools

 

Most tertiary, primary and secondary schools across the country have shut down activities, and students turned back home as the Labour Unions on Monday, flagged off an indefinite nationwide strike action.

This followed a declaration by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Sunday, that there was no going back on the industrial action.

“For now, we don’t have the power to call off the strike, tomorrow (Monday) morning, the strike will kick off as we take their (NASS) plea asking us to call off the strike to our various organs,” said Festus Osifo after the meeting with NASS leadership.

Earlier, Osifo, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC); and his counterpart in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero; met with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas. in Abuja.

The meeting was part of last-minute efforts by the legislators to persuade aggrieved workers to shelve their planned industrial action for a new minimum wage.

The decision of the Organised Labour followed the deadlock between the Federal Government and the unions over a new national minimum wage and the reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs.

Our correspondents, on Monday, reported that the commencement of the industrial action, had seen the shutdown of public schools, as the teachers complied with the strike.

Roads leading to major schools across the country, were seen deserted as the strike actions bite harder.

The stranded students were also captured chatting away, while lamenting the impact of the strike on their academic pursuits.

The labour unions had said the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 can no longer cater to the well-being of an average Nigerian worker, lamenting that not all governors are paying the current wage award which expired in April 2024, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Act should be reviewed every five years to meet with contemporary economic demands of workers.

ASUU Joins Strike

The Academic Students Union of Universities (ASUU), has also directed its members to join the nationwide strike.

A statement by its President, Emmanuel Osodeke, to branch chairmen, and zonal coordinators of the association, noted the industrial actions were a result of the failure of government, to conclude the renegotiation of minimum wage for Nigerian workers and reversal of hike in electricity tariff.

“Our branches are hereby enjoined to join in the strike action as an affiliate member of Congress. Consequently, Branch Chairpersons are to mobilise all members to participate in the strike action,” the statement noted.