NLC draws battle line with FG over crisis in varsity system

…Summons exigency gathering with ASUU, NASU, SSANU, 7 others
…Rejects ‘no work, nary pay’ policy

By Victor Ahiuma

ABUJA — The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has drawn the conflict enactment with the Federal Government implicit the deepening situation successful the country’s nationalist tertiary acquisition sector.

It besides declared solidarity with each unions presently engaged successful the conflict for improved backing and implementation of outstanding agreements.

In a missive by the President, Joe Ajaero, the NLC announced an exigency gathering of each affiliate unions successful the acquisition assemblage to forge a unified strategy against what it described arsenic the government’s persistent breach of collectively bargained agreements and its edifice to intimidation done the “no work, nary pay” policy.

The affected unions see the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU; Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU; Senior Staff Union successful Colleges of Education, Nigeria, SSUCOEN; Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP; and Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture, ASUCA.

Others are Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU; National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT; Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions, ASURI; Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU; and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, SSANIP.

In the missive dated October 14, 2025, addressed to the presidents and wide secretaries of the unions, Ajaero stated: “The NLC conveys its fraternal greetings to you and your esteemed unions. You are undoubtedly alert of the ongoing situation successful our nation’s nationalist tertiary acquisition system, arsenic highlighted successful our property merchandise of October 13, 2025, successful which immoderate of your unions are already afloat engaged.

“The commencement of a two-week informing onslaught by ASUU and the assorted ultimatums issued by astir of your unions to the national authorities are nonstop consequences of government’s persistent refusal to honour collectively bargained agreements.”

The legislature explained that the gathering was convened to make a unified strategy that would fortify labour’s engagement with authorities connected the unresolved issues affecting the acquisition sector.

“In enactment with our declaration of afloat solidarity with ASUU and each unions successful the acquisition sector, and successful designation of the urgent request to germinate a broad and unified strategy, legislature has scheduled an exigency gathering astatine NLC Headquarters, Abuja, to strategize connected effectual engagement with the national authorities regarding the unresolved issues successful the tertiary acquisition sector,’’ helium said.

Ajaero noted that the combat for the endurance of nationalist acquisition was a corporate 1 and warned that nary national should beryllium near to conflict successful isolation.

“Comrades, the conflict for the endurance of nationalist acquisition is simply a combat for the psyche of our nation. We tin nary longer spend to person our unions basal alone. It is, therefore, imperative that your national is represented astatine this important meeting.

“We impulse you to be promptly and travel prepared to marque robust and constructive contributions towards formulating a decisive people of enactment that volition compel authorities to recognize that threats specified arsenic ‘no work, nary pay’ cannot resoluteness these issues.

‘’The lone solution lies successful honouring negotiated agreements. Government indispensable arsenic beryllium reminded that determination is simply a converse rule — ‘no pay, nary work.’”

The station NLC draws conflict enactment with FG implicit situation successful varsity system appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.