Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers has threatened a nationwide strike in solidarity with the prolonged ASUU, NASU, SSANU strike, which according them, has left universities paralyzed for the past eight months.
NUPENG President, Williams Akporeha, condemned what he descibed as the lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government towards finding a lasting solution to the crisis.
Akporeha in a statement jointly signed with the General Secretary of the union, Afolabi Olawale, expressed worry that the strike has left thousands of University Students stranded and idle, making some of them susceptible to go into various social vices and crimes.
The union explained that the prolonged closure of universities in the country, has inadvertently truncated what otherwise should have been wonderful assets and blessings to the nation and humanity.
NUPENG therefore, cautioned the Federal Government to urgently address and resolve all demands of ASUU, NASU and SSANU without any further delay, to avert national solidarity actions from members of the union across the country.
“This is definitely an unfortunate and a sad commentary on the level of governance and sensitivity of the political leaders.
This also without doubt shows the insensitivity of the current administration towards promoting and projecting good and quality education.
“We are seriously concerned that instead of addressing the nagging issues in the educational sector, the unscrupulous politicians are busy campaigning and wasting resources over 2023 general elections.
“It is against this background that NUPENG demands together with other Trade Unions, that the Federal Government must immediately address and resolve all demands of ASUU, NASU and SSANU without any further delay to avert national solidarity actions from our members across the Country.
“The rank-and-file members of NUPENG align with the NLC’s position on protest against unfortunate situation in the tertiary education sector and will not hesitate to join in the proposed nationwide strike on the matter.
A stitch in time saves nine. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
“We are by copy of this press statement putting all our members on alert to be in solidarity actions on the directive of Nigeria Labour Congress at very short notice.”
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