The NLC has scheduled the protest for Tuesday, July 26, and Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in solidarity with the Academic Staff Union of Universities that have been on strike since February 14, 2022, over what it called the apparent failure of the Federal Government to honor the agreement it had with the union.
It called on students across the country to join the nationwide protest of the NLC.
“Nigerian students should get set to fight this educational oppression to a logical conclusion.
On this, FEC is charging and calling on its members in all states and the generality of aggrieved Nigerian students to join the civil mass action initiated by the NLC, planned for July 26 and 27, 2022.
“Here is a fight to finish,” the statement concluded.
Similarly, the Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, have also supported the protest, calling on their members across the country to engage in the action.
In a statement released at weekend by the OAU Student’s Union, signed by its President, Secretary-General, and Public Relations Officer, Olayiwola Festus and Odewale Damilare and Ogunperi Taofeek, respectively, the union noted that given the about six months strike, students expected to participate in the NLC protest to drive home their demands for reopening of schools.
“Great Ife students are encouraged to participate in the protest in the respective places that they are in the country. The protest is consolidating at every State Secretariat of the NLC and the Labour House, Abuja. The protest holds on Tuesday, 26 July 2022, and Wednesday, 27 July 2022.
There is no doubt that, with mass participation, this protest is going to greatly help us in getting the government to do the needful after failing to even honor the recommendations of the Nimi-Briggs Committee which is set up by itself. Let us put in our best and join hands with the NLC for the betterment of the education sector and for us all to return to classes as soon as possible.
On its part, the Students’ Representative Council of ABU, Zaria, also asked the students of the institution to join the NLC action at their various locations.
A statement made available to the media and dated July 23, signed by the Secretary-General, ABU SRC, Comr, Allyu Abdulbacil Bako, partly read, “Following the publication of the National Executive Council of the NLC, dated July 15, 2022. The leadership of the ABU SRC is using this avenue to call for immediate mobilization of our students to participate in the mission of the NLC.
“The leadership is compelling our fellow students to partake peacefully in the rally and be good ambassadors of the institution. Please accept our solidarity and highest regards.”
Since the announcement of the nationwide protest by the NLC, Buhari had since directed the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu to resolve the ongoing ASUU strike as soon as possible, precisely in two weeks with effect from July 19, when he held the meeting with relevant government agencies.
The FG had also made moves to prevent the planned protest by the NLC, with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, stating that the protest was not mandatory, adding that the FG only had issues with ASUU and not the NLC.
Meanwhile, the administration of ASUU at the state and national levels has remained courageous in their resolve while hands are still crossed as to what will happen towards and after the NLC protest.
