NLC awaits decision as ultimatum to FG over looming tertiary institutions strike expires

NLC awaits decision as ultimatum to FG over looming tertiary institutions strike expires

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced that its internal organs will meet to determine the next line of action as the four-week ultimatum issued to the Federal Government over the looming strike in public tertiary institutions expires today.

The acting secretary-general of the NLC, Benson Upah, confirmed the development in Abuja on Friday, noting that the Congress will communicate its decision after reviewing the government’s response to the lingering crises in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

The ultimatum followed a conference of tertiary institution-based unions, during which the NLC resolved to give the government one month to address sector-wide issues.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the era of endless negotiations and unfulfilled agreements had come to an end.

“We have decided to give the Federal Government four weeks to conclude all negotiations in this sector. They have started talks with ASUU, but the problem goes beyond ASUU. That is why we are extending this to four weeks,” Ajaero stated.

He added that in line with the NLC’s commitment to supporting the demands of unions in the education sector, “appropriate organs of the Congress will meet and decide on the next line of action” now that the ultimatum has elapsed.

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Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to the Federal Government to avert the impending strike in public tertiary institutions.
Speaking to our correspondent, NANS Assistant Secretary-General, Adejuwon Olatunji-Emmanuel, urged the government to take “urgent, decisive, and lasting action” to address the concerns surrounding ASUU’s ongoing warning strike.

He noted that since the beginning of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, Nigerian students had enjoyed an uninterrupted academic calendar—an achievement not recorded since 1999.
“This stability must be protected for national development, productivity, and the well-being of millions of students,” he said.

Olatunji-Emmanuel emphasised the need for constructive dialogue and swift resolution of outstanding issues to prevent a total disruption of academic activities.

ASUU had suspended its two-week warning strike on October 22, giving the government one month to meet its demands.
The union’s requests include a review of the 2009 ASUU-FG agreement, payment of outstanding salaries and earned allowances, and the release of university revitalisation funds. It warned that it would resume industrial action without notice if the government failed to act.

However, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, insisted that the government had addressed the union’s demands. He reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s directive of “no strike in public universities,” stressing that negotiations were ongoing to ensure students remain in school.

The coming days will determine whether the looming strike will be averted or Nigeria’s tertiary institutions will face another round of disruption.

NLC awaits decision as ultimatum to FG over looming tertiary institutions strike expires