ASUU: NLC’s planned solidarity protest illegal, invitation to anarchy – FG

The Federal Government Wednesday said the planned street protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in solidarity with the striking members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is illegal.

Fielding questions from State House correspondents at the end of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed said the decision of the NLC to join the strike would create anarchy

He said it’s illegal for the union to embark on a protest because the congress has no dispute with the federal government.

He said as the umbrella body of workers’ unions and associations, there was the need for the NLC to detach itself from politics.

“We should also start to interrogate what labour is doing. The NLC is not a political party. The NLC can go on strike or protest if the rights of NLC members are involved. What the NLC is planning in the next two days is about interest.

“There’s no dispute whatsoever between NLC as a body with the federal government. Well yes, there’s a dispute between some members of NLC, ASUU and the federal government which is being looked into.

“And NLC itself is a party to the committee that is looking into the solution. So, calling out people on street protest you begin to wonder, what is the motive of NLC in this matter?

“But you see here, we do not interrogate what NLC is doing. NLC by its own laws, cannot even give out pamphlets. And NLC is supposed to be completely insulated from politics.

“Now, if you declare dispute with us, yes you can go on strike. Even that one would depend on whether certain steps have been taken or not. But this particular NLC, you know, asking and mobilising people to come out on strike on July 26 and 27, is clearly on nothing,” he said.

Reminded that members of the NLC were worried about the prolonged strike which was also affecting their children, the minister said: “The federal government is as worried as NLC and everybody, but the law is the law. What we are saying is that rather than that, what I expect NLC to do as an umbrella body is to find solution, to join federal government in finding solution.

“They are parts of the tripartite agreement that have been negotiating with federal government on this ASUU issue. So why are they now going out to take sides? I think you should also interrogate it yourselves.

“I think it is popular to get NLC out and support but ask yourself how does that help the problem? How does that solve the problem? What you are going to create is more anarchy. And I think the NLC should think twice about their proposed strike in solidarity with ASUU.”

Also speaking, Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika said the threat by workers in the aviation industry to shut down airports in solidarity with ASUU would have grave implications on national security.

“I’m naturally concerned about this if the aviation union will shut down in support of ASUU. I would say they have no need to. I will say also that we should begin to look at civil aviation as a critical national security enterprise. It has all the implications.

“We should not contemplate or think about an aviation disaster. We should also think about the general activity on the economy of Nigeria without civil aviation.

“It’s okay. This is democracy, you can push for demands, but in pressing for demands you should be reasonable in doing so. Where, the life that you’re trying to promote, would be seriously affected and hampered, where lives can be lost because of your own activity, I think it should be reconsidered.

“So, civil aviation workers, I think should not be part of this. Yes, I am concerned and yes we’ve spoken to them and I don’t think they will join because they know that there’s huge responsibility of lives on their heads. If you’re an air traffic controller, it involves national security. It involves the capability of preventing external aggression and so on so forth.

“I believe that they are very aware of the enormous responsibility upon them in civil aviation and they should continue to see it so and continue to be as law abiding as we want them to be,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr.  Chris Ngige said President Muhammadu Buhari never ordered him to hands off negotiations with the striking varsity lecturers.

Briefing State House correspondents, the minister said: “The truth of the matter is there is no such thing, it’s just categorically untrue. There is nothing like hands off.”

Asked if the two-week directive by the president to resolve the issue is achievable, the minister said he had proposed one week to resolve the issue but the Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu, volunteered to resolve the issues with ASUU in two weeks.