LABOUR UNIONS THREATEN SOLIDARITY STRIKE WITH ASUU, IF FG FAILS TO IMPLEMENT AGREEMENT
…calls for sustainable employment opportunities for Nigerian youths
The National President of Nigeria Civil Service Union, Comrade Chief LAWRENCE UCHECHUKWU AMAECHI has threatened that Labour Unions in Nigerian would join the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on sympathy strike with, proposed strike to commence at the end of this month, August, 2021, against the Federal Government; if the government fails to implement agreement reached with the Union.
Recall that ASUU had threatened a strike by the end of August, due to what it called ‘recalcitrant attitude’ of the Federal Government to implement demands of the union.
Comrade AMAECHI who is also the National Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress made the threat while speaking at the opening session of the International Youth Day celebration, organized by the Nigeria Civil Service Union held at the union’s Conference Hall in Abuja.
The National President warned that: “If stakeholders are concerned with the future of Nigerian youths, the Federal Government should be sensitive enough not to allow another round of ASUU strike as a result of non implementation of Memorandum of Action (MOA) entered into between the Federal and ASUU on 23rd December 2020 as well as signing agreement relating to the renegotiated issues of May 2021”.
Comrade AMAECHI said that Nigeria’s Educational Sector may plunge into another round of serious crisis, if the Federal Government fails to implement its part of the agreement.
He said the proposed nationwide workers sympathy strike with ASUU, would also serve as a way to rescue Nigerian youths from the present state of what he described as hopelessness.
He admonished State Governments to equally look into the deficits in some state owned Universities, like declining fortunes in terms of infrastructural and human resources development and financial commitment by the concerned State Governments among other topical issues raised by National ASUU leadership.
The National Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress said that, the theme of the 2021 International Youth Day celebration tagged: “Transforming Food System Youth lnnovation for Human and planetary Health”, was well chosen to bring to fore the need for the youths across the world and Nigeria in particular to have deeper thought in the diversification of Nigeria economy toward agricultural revolution in the country in practical terms.
The labour leader submitted that the Nigeria Civil Service Union as a critical stakeholder in Nigeria project took the bold step to embark on proactive research on how best to mitigate youth unemployment in Nigeria, hence, it has become imperative to state unequivocally that government at all levels must show greater sincerity in the agricultural revolution work-plan by putting youths at the forefront of implementation of agricultural project in practical terms through irrigation and mechanized farming.
Comrade AMAECHI further said that the Nigeria Civil Service Union is ready, more than ever before, to partner with relevant international organizations and Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to advance the cause of Nigerian youths, women and gender issues in order to make our society a better place to live.
Comrade AMAECHI emphazised that Nigeria Civil Service Union decided to take Youth Day celebration seriously because it took United Nations General Assembly over 34 years ( 1965-1999) before the international organization could pass a resolution accepting the recommendation made by World Conference of Ministers responsible for youths in Lisbon and eventual adoption of August 12th annually as International Youth Day celebration.
The National President of Nigeria Civil Service Union, however, submitted that: “We are not oblivion that various safety nests of youth intervention programmes that the Federal Government has rolled out for the youths, such as Graduate Youth Empowerment Programmes among others but government as an institution must begin a Sustainable Development Programme that will provide long term employment opportunities for Nigeria Youths to reduce youths involvement in criminalities, youth trafficking and social abuses of youths in all ramifications.
Also speaking, the in-coming General Secretary of the Union, Comrade BOMOI MOHAMMED lBRAHEEM opined that the National leadership of the Union would further take critical look at Youth Development Programmes that would enjoy Sustainability Approach for the betterment of Nigerian youths through partnership with like minds organizations and commended the national leadership of the Nigeria Civil Service Union for sharing the lofty programmes.
Our correspondent reports that youths across the 36 State Councils and Federal Capital Territory Abuja Council of the country attended the Programme.
The programme featured presentation of enriched Workshop papers by Head of Department of Youths and Gender of the NLC, Comrade (Mrs) RITA GIYOT and Head of Department Women, Gender and Youths (NCSU), Comrade GBENGA OLOWOYO, other Labour Leaders, Labour Veterans and important dignitaries attended the programme.