By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Awka
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Anambra State chapter, Tuesday, urged governor Chukwuma Soludo to laise with the federal government to fast track the lingering industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The chapter NLC in a solidary protest at different parts of Awka, the State capital, also warned that all the affiliate of the union would be left with no option than to join the industrial action if the government fails to resolve the dispute soon.
The State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Chinwe Orizu, while addressing the peaceful protest, argued that Soludo could use his good office and good conscience to get the Federal Government urgent intervention to solve the impasse.
"Mr Governor, we write to solicit your support and intervention in the matter of the dispute between the federal government and the unions in the tertiary education subsector. This dispute has manifested in a strike action for the past five months and has come at a huge cost to the students, the university staff, parents, the government, other stakeholders and the entire country," she stated.
Also speaking, the Chairman of ASUU in Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Comrade Stephen Oforoah, stressed that the protest was not for ASUU alone but for Nigerians irrespective of tribe, ethnic and religion placement to get back their educational right in the country.
"The federal government should honour the agreement it entered with ASUU since 2009, and, to make sure there is no disparity in the implementation of the salaries of all workers in the federal university system.
On his part, the chairperson, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, Awka chapter, Dr.Uchenna Nwangwu, alleged that the industrial action had forced many students of Nigerian universities into prostitution and other criminalities.