In a significant development, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially declared its participation in the nationwide strike organized by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC). The directive was communicated through a circular addressed to ASUU’s zonal coordinators and chairpersons, signed by Emmanuel Osodeke, the ASUU President, and obtained by SaharaReporters.
As previously reported, the NLC and TUC had notified their affiliates about the impending nationwide strike scheduled to commence at midnight on Monday, November 13, 2023. This decision arose in response to the recent assault on the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, by the Nigerian police and the Imo State government.
President of TUC, Festus Osifo, emphasized that the strike would persist until governments at all levels fulfilled their responsibilities. In a joint letter signed by the National Secretary of the NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja, and the Secretary-General of the TUC, Nuhu Toro, the unions demanded compliance from their affiliates, including ASUU.
The letter instructed affiliates to issue circulars for maximum compliance and make them available to National Secretariats or post them on the NEC and WC WhatsApp platforms. Approximately a week ago, SaharaReporters disclosed that the NLC and TUC issued a notice for the nationwide strike, citing the mistreatment of NLC President Joe Ajaero during a workers’ protest in Imo State.
The unions called for the immediate removal of the Commissioner of Police in Imo State and the Area Commander, among other officials, for their alleged complicity in the brutalization and humiliation of Comrade Ajaero and other workers. This decision was prompted by the arrest of Ajaero by the Nigerian Police Force during a rally to protest against delayed wage payments for workers in the state. The police, however, denied the arrest of Joe Ajaero during the Imo State protest.
