From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Chairman of the Kogi State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Onu Edoka on Tuesday in Lokoja described the Federal Government’s Insensitive to the plight of the nation’s Tertiary Institutions as unfortunate.
The Kogi State Chapter of the NLC which Joined the Nationwide rally in support of Unions in tertiary institutions and students as directed by the National Leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress urged the federal government to reopen all the nation’s Tertiary Institutions.
Speaking at the Government House Lokoja, the NLC Chairman, Comr Onuh Edoka, who was represented by his Vice, Comr. Simeon Opaluwa Eleojo, lamented that the federal government’s insensitive has caused untold hardship on parents, children and the workers in the tertiary Institutions who are being owed salaries for months.
While pointing out that the insensitive on the part of the federal government to keep the students at home has worsened the nation’s insecurity, urged the federal government to quickly meet up with the ASUU’s demands.
The NLC said as the future leaders of the nation keeping the students at home has further added to the security threat the nation is currently facing, pointing out that an idle mind is usually the devil’s workshop, describing the decision to keep mute over the demands of the workers as wicked and insensitive.
The NLC called on the federal government to immediately return the nation’s children who have been at home for six months to the class rooms, saying enough is enough.
The Kogi NLC disclosed that the strike action began on 14th February, 2022, calling for the intervention of the Kogi State Governor to prevail on the federal government to reach an agreement with the workers.
While the NLC said it has taken measures on its part to call off the strike action, it called on the federal government to amongst other requests shelve the IPPS, pay salaries of the tertiary institutions workers and put in place measures to reposition the nation’s Universities.
Highlights of the peaceful protests was a march through the Stella Obasanjo Library to the Government House, where a letter was handed over to the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who was represented by his Deputy, Chief Edward Onoja, for onward delivery to the Federal Government.
