Labour reports Nigeria’s anti workers action against ASUU to ILO

Organised Labour has officially reported Nigeria’s Government anti workers activities against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which has worsen the ongoing strike in the nation’s ivory towers.
Addressing the Plenary of the ongoing 110th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba lamented that government has really not shown any compassion and will power to end the strike which has kept Nigeria’s future generations out of school for over two months.
“In Nigeria, workers in our universities, both academic and non-academic have been on strike for more than two months because of non-implementation of collective bargaining agreement. 
“We call government to bring this strike to an end without further delay,” he said.
Wabba said there has been growing resistance to workers freedom in Nigeria.
He said, “We are appalled and opposed to the growing resistance against trade unionism through obstructions of freedom of association, freedom to organize, freedom to collectively bargain, right to strike and the irresponsible violation of collective bargaining agreements especially by multinational companies. 
“Globally, workers are concerned about the rise of fascism, ultra-nationalism, unilateralism, irresponsible capitalism, and despotism which threaten not only the fabrics of harmonious industrial relations but also the foundations of global peace and our collective survival.”
He noted that the NLC would continue to offer its support to the universities workers who are presently on strike and ensure that all issues that led to the strike are well treated.
The NLC President stated that though the Congress earlier issued an ultimatum to the government, which has now elapsed, but explained that the nationwide strike was only put on hold as a result of intervention from notable individuals in the country.
“What we want to achieve from the ultimatum was to get attention, which I would say we were able to achieve. The Sultan of Sokoto, Secretary to the Federation of Nigeria and others intervened and tell us to give them sometime to intervene. We are actually waiting for them. 
“That is also in conjunction with the ILO which believes more in dialogue than shut down. Also for us as a labour centre, strike is always the last option when other avenues have failed. But we are still fully in support of our members in ASUU,” he said.
He however commended the commitment of the social partners in Nigeria for institutionalizing Social Dialogue through the resuscitation of the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC). 
According to him, this tripartite structure has completed the process of reviewing of the nation’s five Labour laws.
“We are expecting government to forward these laws to the Nigerian parliament without delay. 
“Similarly, the NLAC has also been utilised to process ILO Convention 190 for ratification. We are confident that this ratification will happen very soon.
Together, we can make the world a better place to live, work and raise our families,” he said.
Reiterating Nigeria’s denouncement of the recent military coups in parts of Africa and Myanmar, Wabba called for the restoration of genuine democratic, plural and participatory governance in the affected countries. 
He also called for a new social contract anchored on a human-centered approach to recovery and which prioritizes decent work, social dialogue, social protection, Just Transition to green economy, inclusive and sustainable development and the resolve to make and operationalize Occupational Health and Safety as a fundamental right at work in line with the demands of the ILO Centenary Declaration and the Global Call to Action.