ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Government has commended the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Delta State chapter, for comporting themselves during a peaceful protest it organized in solidarity with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the prolonged University strike.
The Governor of the state, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, gave the commendation when he received the protesters in Government House, Asaba.
Governor Okowa, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah, noted that the demands of ASUU were reasonable and that their solidarity protest with the striking university lecturers was not out of place, adding that what the union had done was a welcomed development.
The Governor, who noted that even though all ASUU’s requests could not be met, stated that at least part of it should be met, so that the striking university lecturers could go back to the classrooms.
He assured that their message would be taken to the appropriate authorities and urged them to remain peaceful.
Speaking on behalf of the Labour leaders, the first Vice Chairman of NLC, Delta State chapter, Comrade Zico Okwudi, warned that failure of the Federal Government to meet the demands of ASUU which they had reached, Labour and its affiliate members would shut down the economy of the nation to frustrate the Federal Government.
He stated that the Federal Government always found it easy to address issues affecting them through intervention and subsidy, but exhibit nonchalant attitude on ASUU’s matters because their children are schooling abroad.
Comrade Okwudi expressed optimism that what they came for would be achieved because Governor Okowa would always keep to his words.
He explained that the protest was to get Nigerian children back to school and support the unions in Nigeria’s public universities fighting for quality education.
It would be recalled that ASUU had been on strike for over five months to get the Federal Government to meet its demands.
