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The Nigeria Labour Congress on Thursday issued a note of warning to the Federal Government over the withheld salaries of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions.
The congress in a statement by its Head of Public Affairs, Benson Upah said the government will court a nationwide protest if it fails to heed its warnings.
The NLC also knocked the Commissioner of Police, FCT, Bennet Igweh, over the alleged harassment of the protesting university workers.
The PUNCH earlier reported that the Nigeria Police on Thursday stopped the Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Allied Institutions from embarking on protest in Abuja.
As soon as the leadership of JAC started addressing members for the protest for onward movement to the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, where they are to present letters to the ministers, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igwe, stormed the Unity Fountain and warned that there would be no protest.
Consequently, the police used an armoured vehicle and a Hilux van to block the entry and exit gates to stop the protest.
All entreaties made to the police by the leadership of the two unions could not persuade them to allow the aggrieved members to proceed with the protest rally.
Some of the non-teaching staff members had wanted to revolt against the police directive, but they were calmed down by their leaders not to do anything that could lead to violence.
NLC said, “The FCT Police Command Commissioner, Compol Bennett Igweh deservedly earned our outrage and contempt by violently breaking up a peaceful protest at Unity Fountain on Thursday, July 18, 2024, by members of two of our affiliates, NASU and SSANU.
“The behaviour of the police is an affront to the 1999 constitution (as amended), ILO Conventions 87 and 98 and African Charter on People and Human Rights which guarantee freedom of association and speech; a violation of the Supreme Court ruling that citizens do not need the permit or approval of the police to peacefully protest and an insult to the dignity of self-respecting and law-abiding citizens.
“The reason for the peaceful protest by NASU and SSANU is very much in the public domain which is the non-payment of their four-months withheld salaries after workers in other unions were paid for the same strike action.
“The two unions had exhausted all means lawful over a long period including a warning strike as a means for getting their salaries paid.”
