By Peter Moses Abakaliki
The Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), Ebonyi State Chapter has joined its counterparts all over the country to protest against the lingering strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
The NLC State Chairman, Comrade Ikechukwu Nwafor disclosed this while addressing the mammoth crowd who were chanting protest songs at PA Ngele Oruta Township Stadium in Abakaliki the State Capital.
Comrade Nwafor said the Nigerian government must end the strike which has lasted more than expected.
He informed that the Nigeria government should implement all the agreements with labour unions
"Our leaders must know that whatever seed you sow, you shall reap. This Strike must end to enable the Nigerian children to come back to class and learn so that they can become the supposed leaders of tomorrow," Nwafor said.
The ASUU Chairman of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufualike Ikwo AEFUNAI, Dr Egwu Oguguo said, "the longer the Nigerian students stay at home, the more the insecurity of the nation increases because an idle mind is the devil's workshop"
"Our children must go back to school no matter what it will cause the Nigeria government, for the government and its resources are for the living," Egwu added.
The AEFUNAI Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, Comrade Chigbata Emmanuel said, ASUU rejected the Integrated Payroll Personnel Information System IPPIS in its entirety and as a matter of the fact, it is not working for the good of the Universities.
"University community is a very diverse one and as such, IPPIS cannot work in such institutions," Chigbata said.
The Chairman Academic Staff Union of Universities, Professor Ikechukwu Igwenyi said the wickedness of our leaders must come to an end.
"Our leaders are doing all this rubbish of lingering the strike because their children are studying in public Nigeria Universities, take, for instance, if the children of the governors were to be in Nigerian school, they would not allow the strike for even one day.
"The welfare of the lecturers is not something to write home about, as it stands right now, lecturers are living below the poverty level," Igwenyi added.
The Ebonyi State University SSANU Chairman, Mr Elias Odigbo said all the agreements between the Nigerian government and Labor Unions must be implemented for effective productivity.
Odigbo added that the government has not been fair with the welfare of workers.
The protesters marched from Pastoral Center Mile 50 to PA Ngele Oruta Township Stadium Abakaliki, with placards of various inscriptions like "Federal Government, honour unions, "FG bring our children back to school" and so on.
The highlights of the protest were the submission of the protest letter by NLC to the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr David Umahi through the office of the Secretary to the State Government.
