ASUU Joins Nationwide Strike Declared By Nigeria Labour Congress, TUC

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its members to join the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, starting from Monday midnight.

ASUU stated this in a circular to its zonal coordinators and chairpersons, signed by Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU President and obtained by SaharaReporters.

The academic union said, “As an affiliate of NLC, all members of our union are hereby directed to join this action of NLC to protect the interest of Nigerian workers and the leadership of the union.

“Zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons should immediately mobilise our members to participate in the action.”

SaharaReporters earlier reported that the NLC and the TUC wrote their affiliates ahead of the planned nationwide strike scheduled to begin midnight of Monday, November 13, 2023.

The organised labour had directed its members to commence a nationwide strike on Monday night (today) over the recent assault by the Nigerian police and the Imo State government on the NLC president, Joe Ajaero.

The President of TUC, Festus Osifo, who addressed reporters on Monday, November 13, had said the strike would remain until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibility.”

However, the groups in a letter jointly signed by the National Secretary of the NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja and the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress, Nuhu Toro to the affiliates demanded for compliance.

It directed the affiliates which include: the Academic Staff Union of Universities, National Union of Electricity Employees, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics among others to issue circulars for maximum compliance.

The labour unions added that the circulars be made available to the National Secretariats or posted to the NEC and WC WhatsApp platforms.

SaharaReporters about a week ago reported that the NLC and the TUC issued a notice to embark on a nationwide strike over the ill-treatment of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero during the workers’ protest in Imo State.

The notice was issued at a press conference by leaders of the NLC and TUC, asking the President Bola Tinubu-led government to immediately sack the Commissioner of Police in Imo State and the Area Commander, among other officials, for their alleged complicity in the brutalisation and humiliation of Comrade Ajaero and other workers.

SaharaReporters had also reported how operatives of the Nigerian Police Force arrested Ajaero while organising a rally to protest against stalled wage payments for workers in the state.

It was also reported that the police denied arresting Joe Ajaero during a protest in Imo State.