ASUU Strike: Nasarawa NLC Joins Nation-Wide Protest.

…Urges Gov. Sule To Table Issue Before Governor’s Forum.

Nathaniel Gbaoron, Lafia.

The Nasarawa State Chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has joined the nation-wide protest to put pressure on the Federal Government (FG) to expedite action to end the ongoing strike by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Speaking during the procession from Total Filling Station to Government House Lafia, Comrade Yusuf Iya, Nasarawa State NLC Chairman said the protest was in solidarity with ASUU as directed by the National Headquarters of the union.

Iya said prolonged strike has negatively affected the education sector and kept the students idle and therefore make them vulnerable to vices.

He said that it is unfortunate that the government that entered into agreement with ASSU had reneged in fulfilling its part of the agreement.

He added that what offence have the lecturers committed for accepting to train the manpower needed to develop the country that the government is treating them with as if they are not relevant.

He also appealed to Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State to table their position on the matter before the Nigeria Governor’s Forum that the government should meet the demands of ASSU and pay them their withheld salaries immediately.

The NLC Chairman therefore promised that the union would sustain its actions until the government resolve all issues and end the ASUU strike.

Addressing the protesters, Gov. Sule lauded the leadership of the union as well as members for conducting themselves peacefully.

Gov. Sule added that the Nasarawa State Government is as concern about the lingered strike as the NLC is and promised to table their issue at the meeting of Governor’s Forum for prompt intervention.

He explained that the state government is up to date in the payment of salaries of lecturers at the Nasarawa State University Keffi despite that they are part of the ongoing strike.

He therefore promised to continue to give priority to education sector because it is key to the development of the state.

MoneyCentral gathered that members of the 32 affiliates carried postcards with different inscriptions such as, FG end ASSU strike now, enough is enough among others.