The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned the Federal Government regarding the withheld salaries of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU).
In a statement released by its Head of Public Affairs, Benson Upah, the NLC declared that the government would face a nationwide protest if the salaries remain unpaid.
The NLC also criticized the Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory, Bennet Igweh, for allegedly harassing university workers who were protesting.
Previously, it was reported that the Nigeria Police halted a planned protest in Abuja by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU.
As JAC leaders began addressing their members to proceed to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Commissioner Igweh intervened at Unity Fountain, prohibiting the protest.
The police blocked the protest using an armored vehicle and a Hilux van, preventing entry and exit at the venue. Despite efforts by union leaders to negotiate with the police, they were not permitted to continue the protest.
Some non-teaching staff members considered defying the police directive, but their leaders urged them to remain peaceful.
The NLC stated, “The actions of Commissioner Bennett Igweh in violently breaking up a peaceful protest at Unity Fountain on July 18, 2024, by members of NASU and SSANU are outrageous and contemptible. This behavior violates the 1999 constitution (as amended), ILO Conventions 87 and 98, and the African Charter on People and Human Rights, which guarantee freedom of association and speech. It also disregards the Supreme Court ruling that citizens do not need police permits to protest peacefully and insults the dignity of law-abiding citizens.”
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The NLC highlighted that the protest was due to the non-payment of four months’ salaries for NASU and SSANU members, while workers in other unions had been paid for the same strike period.
The two unions had exhausted all lawful means, including a warning strike, to secure their salaries.
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