Key Points

• NLC gives government four weeks to resolve education sector crisis.

• Labour unions unite under one front to demand action on agreements.

• NLC declares “no pay, no work” policy in response to government stance.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has given the Federal Government four weeks to resolve all ongoing issues in the education sector.

The unions warned that failure to act within the deadline would trigger a nationwide strike involving all workers.

Unions close ranks over stalled negotiations

At a joint meeting in Abuja on Monday, NLC President Joe Ajaero said the congress and its affiliate unions in tertiary institutions agreed to act as one body after years of what they called “government neglect and broken promises.”

Unions represented at the meeting included the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI), and the Colleges of Education Staff Union (COESU).

Ajaero said the NLC’s decision followed “extensive consultations” aimed at securing lasting solutions to the funding and governance challenges in education.

“We’ve resolved to work together with all the unions to end this recurring crisis. Every time there’s an agreement, the government signs it, then walks away from it. That has to stop,” he said.

NLC demands binding agreements and better funding

The unions want the Federal Government to honour previous agreements, raise education funding to align with UNESCO’s 25 percent benchmark, and review salaries and allowances for both academic and non-academic staff.

Ajaero said government representatives often attend negotiation meetings without authority to make binding commitments.

“From now on, no union will meet with government officials who don’t have a mandate to sign agreements. We’re done wasting time,” he said.

The NLC plans to set up a national campaign team to press for education reform and transparency. Ajaero said the unions expect all talks to be completed within four weeks.

“If after that nothing changes, we’ll call for a nationwide action involving all sectors. It’s time to fix this once and for all,” he said.

Labour warns against double standards

The NLC also rejected the government’s “no work, no pay” policy, declaring its own “no pay, no work” stance in response.

“You can’t refuse to fund education and then punish workers for reacting,” Ajaero said.

“Most strikes in this country happen because government refuses to obey its own agreements. If you cause the crisis, you should bear the cost.”

With that warning, the NLC appears set for another confrontation with the Federal Government unless quick progress is made in resolving the disputes rocking Nigeria’s universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.