The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reiterated its support for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in its ongoing dispute with the Federal Government over challenges affecting public university education in the country.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, stated this on Sunday during The Toyin Falola Interviews, themed “A Conversation with the ASUU President.” The virtual discussion, hosted by Prof. Toyin Falola and streamed across various platforms, had about 1.2 million participants from 27 countries. Panelists included ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, Prof. Francis Egbokhare, and Mrs. Grace Edema of The Punch.
Ajaero stressed that ASUU’s struggle goes beyond the interests of university lecturers, noting that the union plays a vital role in shaping the nation’s future.
“ASUU members are workers, but beyond that, they are character moulders and nation builders. Their struggle is legitimate and deserves full support,” he said.
He acknowledged that the challenges facing ASUU are longstanding, referencing the union’s unresolved 2009 agreement with the Federal Government. Ajaero described the situation as evidence of poor commitment to improving the education sector.
He also highlighted the need to broaden discussions beyond university autonomy to examine the state of primary and secondary education, arguing that weak foundational education undermines performance at the tertiary level.
“It is important to address the entire education structure. If the foundation is weak, excellence at the university level becomes difficult,” he noted.
Ajaero added that the NLC remains committed to ensuring policymakers treat ASUU’s concerns with urgency and seriousness. He said the Congress recently met with ASUU to suspend strike action while discussions with the Federal Government continue.
Other speakers, including Prof. Egbokhare, Prof. Tella, and journalist Grace Edema, emphasized the need for lasting solutions to prevent continuous disruption of academic activities.
Earlier in the session, Prof. Falola provided historical context on recurring disputes between ASUU and the government, noting that similar challenges are found in other African countries. He called for coordinated efforts to strengthen the education sector across the continent.
