The Labour and Civil Society coalition group says it plans to mobilise the general public for a peaceful rally on July 14, in solidarity with the striking university workers.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, at the Lagos office of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the labour group says it intends to lobby other workers, students, parents and members of the public to protest the Federal Government's handling of issues affecting the education sector and the entire Nigerian workers.
Accusation against the government
The NLC's secretary, Biodun Aremu says, "the protest is our way of supporting the striking university workers who are also our members. The government has been insincere with a lot of the agreements reached with labour unions on various grounds.
"For instance, the agreement reached years ago with government on salary review has not been implemented. There is also the implementation of the agreement with the three university unions in 2008. The government's negotiation team was led by renowned industrialist, Gamaliel Onosode.
"Instead of the government to implement this agreement and to move the nation forward, Sam Egwu, the minister of education is denying the agreement. The government is always acting in an irresponsible manner when it comes to workers welfare. Such an attitude will keep leading to strikes, as this seems to be the only language the government understands," he said.
A professor and dean of the College of Engineering, University of Abeokuta, Akin Ajisegiri, who represented the striking university workers' expressed disappointment that the government refuses to honour its agreements with the universities.
However, this contradicts Dora Akuyili, minister of Information's claims that the government had honoured all the agreements with the universities, except the issue of over 100 per cent salary increase.
The minister argued recently that the issue of salary would have to be renegotiated based on governments finances and responsibilities.
Mr. Ajisegiri decries that the education sector in Nigeria has been neglected by successive governments, pointing out that "education is the bedrock of creativity and development. The nation cannot achieve its vision 2020 by neglecting its education sector.
"There are no adequate facilities in Nigerian schools, the teaching facilities are poor and this is limiting the number of people going into the university system, thereby resulting in manpower challenges.
"The government should implement a proper funding of the education sector. Most of the teaching staff in the country are already leaving for better places with good working conditions and this is affecting the sector, particularly the quality of graduates from the institutions."
Dan Uhumangho, the deputy secretary general of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) argues that it was time the Nigerian workers forced the government to listen to their plights.
Specifically, Mr. Uhumangho notes that the demand for an increase in workers' minimum wage is crucial to the workers survival, saying, "government has to stop faking ignorance and fulfil its responsibilities to the Nigerian workers. The striking unions are part of the labour union and they also deserve a living wage like any other worker in the country."
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