ASUU, Maritime, Electricity Workers, Banks, others Join Labour strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has directed its members to join the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Organised labour, on Monday, declared a nationwide industrial action effective Wednesday over the brutalisation of Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, in Owerri, Imo State.

The ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, directed in a letter to ASUU zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons across the country to immediately mobilise members for the strike.

“As an affiliate of NLC, all members of our union are hereby directed to join this action of NLC to protect the interest of Nigerian workers and the leadership of the union. Zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons should immediately mobilise our members to participate in the action,” Osodeke wrote in the letter.

On its part, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) directed workers to shut all port formations across the country.

In a statement by Head of Media, John Ikemefuna, on behalf of the President-General, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, the union said: “The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) will midnight, Tuesday 14, 2023, commence a nationwide strike.

“The strike is on the instruction of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Monday, November 13, 2023, directing all affiliates of the Congress to strictly comply.

“The NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) took this decision after their joint meeting in Abuja, which was prompted by a series of infractions and encroachments of the rights of workers, and the distressing incidents involving the abduction and assault on the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and other Unions’ officials.

“There’s also the continued refusal of the government to implement agreements, non-payment of backlog of salaries, pensions, discriminatory payment of salaries and non-compliance to national minimum wage.

“As an affiliate of the NLC, the MWUN is geared to commence the nationwide strike as directed by the NLC.”

Meanwhile, the National Union of Electricity Employees, National Union of Banks Insurance & Financial Institutions Employees, and Union of Food Beverage & Tobacco Employees have directed all members and affiliates of the different Unions to join the Strike.