The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has backed the warning strike embarked on by its affiliate unions: the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational Institutions (NASU), Associated Institutions, and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).
The NLC further calls on the federal government to pay the withheld salaries owed to members of the two unions without further delay.
The labour centre communicated its position on the industrial action in a statement signed by its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
The statement in part reads: “We join our affiliate unions, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational (NASU) and Associated Institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), in demanding the immediate payment of the withheld salaries of their members.
“There has been no credible reason or explanation for withholding those salaries in the first place.
“We recall that this singular act plunged the members into indescribable hardship.
“Much worse, it defies logic to try to subject members of these unions to discriminatory treatment.
“By so doing, the government is clearly courting avoidable industrial disputes.
“At a time when confidence is being restored to the public universities, the least the government could do is not engineer another strike.
“The toll on all parties will be unacceptably high, especially for students and parents who bear the burden of movement on our dangerous roads.
“In light of this, we urge the government to expeditiously pay up the outstanding.
“We advise the government to take for granted the maturity of these unions.”
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