The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced that its organs will meet to determine the next line of action as the one-month ultimatum it issued to the Federal Government over the looming industrial action in public tertiary institutions expires today (Saturday).
The acting Secretary-General of the NLC, Benson Upah, made this known on Friday in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja. He said the congress would review the government’s response to its demands and take a collective decision aimed at safeguarding the nation’s education system.
Last month, the NLC, after a crucial meeting with unions representing workers in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, handed down a 30-day ultimatum to the Federal Government. The ultimatum was issued to compel the government to address long-standing grievances, including unpaid allowances, poor infrastructure, stalled revitalisation funds, and unresolved issues surrounding conditions of service in tertiary institutions.
According to Upah, the expiration of the ultimatum signifies a critical moment for the sector, which has suffered repeated disruptions due to labour disputes. He noted that the NLC had exercised patience by engaging government officials, but insisted that the concerns raised by education workers could no longer be ignored.
“We issued the ultimatum in good faith. Our expectation is that the government would take decisive steps to resolve the crisis in our tertiary institutions. Since the deadline expires on Saturday, the organs of the congress will meet and decide the next steps,” he said.
Stakeholders fear that a failure to reach a resolution could plunge the nation’s public tertiary institutions into yet another round of industrial action, with significant consequences for academic calendars and students nationwide.
As Nigerians await the NLC’s verdict, many are calling on the government to act swiftly to prevent avoidable disruptions in the education sector.
