By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Amidst the prolonged strike by the industrial unions in the nation’s universities, the Joint Action Force (JAF) on Thursday, called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to declare 48-hour general strike to save public education in the country.
The body in a statement jointly by its Deputy Chairperson, Comrade Achike Chude and Secretary, Comrade Abiodun, further asked the NLC and TUC to demand urgent action from the government to deal with the cost of living and improve the conditions of all workers.
JAF in the statement pointed out that the 48-hour general strike became necessary as a result of the Federal Government’s failure to resolve the strike actions embarked upon by workers in public universities sector by not reaching an agreement that will resolve the strike actions by the university unions.
” For more than two weeks after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) mass protest and over three weeks that President Buhari ordered the Minister of Education to resolve the strike actions embarked upon by workers in public universities sector, it is unfortunate that the Federal Government is yet to reach an agreement that will resolve the strike actions by the university unions”, it said.
The body added, ” while the universities have been shut down for over 180 days, the attitude of the President Buhari regime does not show that it is ready to sincerely meet the demands of the striking workers. We in the Joint Action Front (JAF) condemn this unserious attitude of the government towards implementing agreements it reached with unions, most especially in the case of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT)”.
” Such a general strike should be preceded by mass leaf letting, public meetings and rallies across the country in order to build support of workers and the oppressed masses. For us in JAF, even if it is a 48-hour general strike that the NLC and TUC are able to organize considering the state the nation at the present, this can be an important starting point for struggle that can be built upon as time goes on”.
JAF while lamenting that “however, in view of rising inflation, collapse of the naira and the sharp increase in the cost of food, energy and other basic needs which has resulted in a cost of living crisis”, stated ” such a general strike also needs to be used to demand and fight for payment of owed salaries and pension arrears, review of the minimum wage to reflect the new economic situation, reversal of fuel and electricity price hike, drastic actions to halt rising prices of food, energy and other basic needs etc”.
” As we write, many working class families face starvation due to the fact that the N30,000 minimum wage has collapsed in value. Now many workers trek long distances to and from work because they cannot afford the skyrocketing transport fare. Unless we struggle, things can get worse. Also, at the moment, there is a proposal by the Governors Forum to address the economic crisis which if implemented will lead to imposition of a package of austerity measures on Nigerian workers” .
It however commended the leadership of the NLC for organising the July 26 and 27 solidarity nationwide protest in support of the University unions and in sympathy with Nigerian students idling away at home”.
” In view of the lack of progress in the negotiations since the protest and the continued closure of public universities, JAF calls on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to immediately commence preparation and mobilisation for a warning general strike and nationwide mass protest as a result of the failure of the government to keep to its part pact of resolving the university workers’ strike in two weeks”.
