ASUU strike: Ban govt officials from sending their children to school abroad, says Osun NLC

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Osun State has proposed an act that will stop ministers and others in government from sending their children abroad.

The Ayuba Wabba-led NLC had directed its members across Nigeria to go on a two- day protest against Federal Government’s failure that has led to universities being shut and students staying at home for the past five months.

Following the directive, the Osun State chapter mobilised its members on Tuesday and converged at Ogo-Oluwa area in Osogbo, the state capital.

Joined by some students, they trekked to the state House of Assembly before moving to the Governor’s office in Abere armed with placards with different inscriptions.

Speaking at the Assembly complex, the state Chairman of NLC, Jacob Adekomi said if government officials are banned from sending their children abroad, the education sector will be given the needed attention.

Adekomi, who was represented by his vice, Gbadebo Awotayo said: “You will recall that since 2009, the government of Nigeria made an agreement with the university community, the workers in the university but the government reneged on that agreement. Their insincerity led to another strike in 2013 and the whole universities and tertiary institutions in Nigeria were closed down for another six months. 

“Since February 14, 2022, public universities have also shut down, the Nigerian government has not done anything tangible to open the universities. They would have opened it if they are critical stakeholders but because they have their children sponsored abroad for their university education, they forgot that the right to education is common man’s right.

“They left the universities in dilapidated condition– no laboratory, no library and there is serious brain drain in Nigeria as the professionals are travelling abroad for greater opportunities.

“NLC is saying there must be an end to this strike. That is why we are protesting today to the House of Assembly and the Governor’s office. We don’t want our children to stay at home any longer. We want the strike to end now. “We want the government to see the funding of our university as a priority. If possible, there should be an act that will stop ministers and others in government from sending their children abroad, then they will be able to take care of Nigerian universities.”

Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Timothy Owoeye assured the labour union that the strike will be over in a couple of days.

“I want to tell you that we are into it together as your representatives. We are not happy for keeping our children at home for almost 157 days. I have never seen a developing country playing with the education system as that of Nigeria.

“I want to assure you as said by Mr President that he has given two-week ultimatum to the minister of education to put a definite end to the strike. I want to tell you categorically that we are with you,” he said.