The leadership of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), on Tuesday, led the solidarity protest to support the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on its ongoing strike action.
The leadership of both union threatened to shut down the nation’s economy if the Federal Government fails to meet the demands of the striking university lecturers.
They promised not to relent until the goverment do the needful and rise up to its responsibilities.
Speaking with journalists in Ibadan during the solidarity protest, the NLC chairman in Oyo State, Comrade Kayode Martins,noted that Nigeria’s education sector is currently in danger.
He pointed out that the protest was to call Federal Government’s attention and people in power to the situation in the education sector, which he described as comatose.
“Children have been at home for months and nobody is doing anything about it. Crime rate has also increased, goverment should come to the rescue of Nigerian youth, they are destroying our future, youth are the future of this country,” he said
Also speaking, the TUC chairman in the state, Comrade Emmanuel Ogundiran urged the Federal Goverment to find a lasting solution to the lingering crisis in the education sector to save the future of Nigerian students.
“It seems we don’t have goverment. Those at the helm of affairs are playing with the future of our children.
“They are not serious with the welfare of average Nigerians, no security, no infrastructure, the hope that gives our little ones opportunity to become better person which is education has been killed, they are trying to kill education in Nigeria.
“This protest is just a warning to say enough is enough, we are not happy with our leaders,” Ogundiran said.
The protesters, who marched through the state capital, were seen carrying placards with various incriptions such as ‘say yes to quality education,’ ‘no education, no life, save our children’s life,’ ‘Nigerian universities are bleeding,’ ‘enough is enough,’ and ‘bring our children back to school’ among others.
