NLC Steps In: Labour to mediate in ASUU, FG conflict

As the face-off between the Federal Government and striking university lecturers under the the Aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities took yet another twist on Thursday, there were indications that the organised labour in the country will mediate in the crisis.

The Coordinating Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, had given the marching order to the lecturers, who have been on strike since July, to return to work by Wednesday next week or risk being fired by the Federal Government.

The National President of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama, said in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Thursday that the two labour centres, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the TUC would intervene in the lingering ASUU crisis.

As part of the efforts to ensure that the schools were reopened, Kaigama and the Acting General Secretary of the NLC had called on the Federal Government to pay the arrears of salaries owed the striking university lecturers to them on Tuesday.

However, the TUC President said the organized labour was concerned with the resolution of
the crisis and would avoid blaming either party involved in the crisis.