The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has made true of its promise to carry out a nationwide protest the ongoing ASUU strike on the 26th and 27th of July.
Major roads in Lagos, Ibadan, Jos and other Cities across the country has been blocked as both members of NLC, ASUU and NANS engage in their planned protest.
The union had announced last week Sunday that it would on the 26th and 27th of July, carry out a nationwide strike to compel the federal government to resolve the five-month-old Asuu strike that has kept public university students at home.
The government, through Minister of Information Lai Mohammed had deemed the protest illegal, stating that there was no need for the planned protest since the government does not have any dispute with members of the NLC.
However, Nation President of NLC Ayuba Wabba in a statement said there was no going back on the planned protest
Wabba, who was reacting to an earlier warning against the strike by Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed said it was in consonance with democratic norms and rule of law.
Mohammed had on Wednesday said the NLC had no reason to embark on the protest as the Federal Government had no dispute with its members. He declared the protest as illegal.
The NLC, in a statement, said:” It’s elementary knowledge that the right to peaceful assembly and protest is a fundamental global right guaranteed by the UN Charter on Human and Peoples right and the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. All peaceful assemblies are lawful and do not require any permission under our laws. In a democratic society, such a statement is not consistent with the rule of law.
Details coming in from the Lagos chapter of the NLC says that it has given the federal government a two-week ultimatum to resolve the ongoing strike.
Speaking at the protest in Ikeja, Lagos NLC chairperson, Mrs Agnes Sessy urged the federal government to act within the two weeks ultimatum or risk another #ENDSARS type of protest.
Members of the National Union of Electricity Employees have also threatened nationwide blackout as they plan to join the NLC in solidarity protest with ongoing strike by ASUU.
