The National Association of Nigerian Students Stays Out of NLC Protest
The Nigeria Labour Congress has been encouraged by the National Association of Nigeria Students to postpone its scheduled strike and concentrate on giving national development top priority.
It urged the NLC to consider other options instead of taking strike action to settle disagreements with the federal government.
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, had stated in a statement on Sunday that the scheduled protests against the nation’s current economic hardships will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The statewide protest, which is set to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, is being organized by the NLC in response to the government’s purported inability to carry out agreements that both sides struck on October 2, 2023, after the fuel subsidy was removed. The announcement was made on February 16.
The decision was made after the Federal Government was given a 14-day ultimatum to take action against financial hardship.
However, NANS Senate President Akinteye Babatunde raised concerns about the protest’s possible effects on academic activities and the general welfare of citizens in a speech on Monday, even as he acknowledged the workers’ justifiable complaints and the need for better working conditions.
We are pleading with the NLC to reevaluate their choice and give cooperation with the administration first priority for the sake of the country as a whole.
“We think that constructive involvement and communication are crucial in resolving complaints and making significant strides toward enhancing the well-being of both employees and people.
“There is a serious chance that the impending strike will worsen the country’s already dire economic conditions and cause major disruptions to the lives of regular people, including students,” he stated.
NANS added that “disruptions to academic calendars, examinations, and other educational activities could derail the progress of students and exacerbate the already precarious situation in the education sector.” The organization claimed that the strike action would have a devastating effect on academic activities, especially for students who are already coping with several difficulties within the educational system.
Babatunde went on to say that the NLC’s lobbying efforts in talks with the government to address issues plaguing its workers will have the backing of the upper echelon of the student body.
To secure the prosperity and well-being of every Nigerian, he said, “We appeal to the NLC to prioritize the national interest above all else and seek common ground with the government.”
Credits:Allschoolabs, Nairaland
