ASUU Strike: Massive Turnout As NLC President Leads Day 2 Protest

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday continued its protest in Abuja over the prolonged strike by university workers across the country.

This comes a day after a similar demonstration held in various states of the Federation, except in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The protest began at about 9:30am after members of the NLC leadership and leaders of various affiliated unions, as well as members converged on the Unity Fountain in the nation’s capital.

Among those physically present were the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba; ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke; and the immediate past President of the academic union, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, among others.

NLC members protest over the strike by university unions on July 27, 2022.

There was a heavy security presence at the venue of the protest mostly made up of personnel of the Nigeria Police.

The protesters plan to march to the National Assembly where the NLC president will deliver a message from the labour unions to the lawmakers.

University workers, including members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), had gone on strike for various reasons.

Lecturers in government-owned universities – affiliated with ASUU – embarked on a nationwide strike on February 14 over the adoption of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) of the government as the payment system in the university sector, as well as poor funding of universities, and non-payment of salaries and allowances of some of their colleagues, among other issues.

Since the industrial action began, several negotiations between the union and the government have ended in deadlock.