FG declares NLC’s planned protest with ASUU illegal

Tayo AFOLABI

The planned solidarity march by the Nigeria Labour Congress with the striking members of the University-based unions has been declared as illegal.

Recall that the NLC on July 17, 2022, announced that it would kick off a nationwide protest on July 26 and 27 to pressure the federal government to resolve the five-month-long strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and three other sister unions.

However, addressing State House Correspondents on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the planned street protest is illegal since the NLC has no pending dispute with the government.

Mohammed accuses the congress of being motivated by partisan interests, advising it to “insulate itself completely from politics.”

Recall that ASUU embarked on a one-month warning strike on February 14. Other associations such as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions and National Association of Academic Technologists later followed suit, shutting down their activities in universities nationwide.