By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to embark on a three-day warning strike if the Federal Government fails to implement the demands raised by the striking four university-based unions.

The NLC issued the threat at the end of its Central Working Committee, CWC, meeting held at the headquarters of the NLC.

It also gave the government a 21-day ultimatum to meet the demands raised by the university unions.

Buhari extol lessons of Ramadan as month-long fast nears end

Recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Educational Institutions (NASU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) have been on strike over grievances related to revitalisation funds, difficulties in the implementation of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) and the non-review of conditions of service, among others.

President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, who presided over the meeting, said it is regrettable that while the children of the poor were idling away at home, those from rich homes are busy with their studies.

The CWC meeting resolved, “On the ongoing strike action by unions in Nigerian universities, the CWC resolved as follows, all affiliates of the NLC are to issue public statements condemning the intermittent strike actions in Nigeria’s universities, particularly the current one which has gone on for about two months.

Ex-Abia deputy speaker files motion to halt PDP presidential primary

“Within the span of the subsisting 21 days ultimatum given by congress, the NLC will hold nationwide protests against the current strike action affecting students of Nigeria’s public universities and occasioned by government’s failure to honour the agreement reached with trade unions in our universities.

“The protest is to draw the attention of the government to the inherent catastrophe in the emerging culture of social apartheid in our society, especially as marked by a prolonged lockout of students from working-class and poor homes from our public universities while the children of the rich continue their academic pursuits uninterrupted.

“If at the end of the national protest and the 21-day ultimatum, the Federal Government still fails to resolve the industrial crises in Nigeria’s universities, the congress would be left with no other option than to embark on three days nationwide warning strike action in solidarity with our affiliates in the universities and with Nigerian students whose future and wellbeing are being robbed.”