The Lagos State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Mrs Funmi Sessi, has urged Lagosians to take part in the protest for the betterment of the nation. Sessi, directed all sectors including health, electricity and aviation to shut down operations and join the solidarity protest in support of the striking workers. There were heavy security presence at the NLC headquarters and around the Lagos State Secretariat Alausa where hundreds of workers converged as early as 7:00am this morning (Tuesday).
“We will be converging as early as 6:30 a.m. at Ikeja and take off by 7.00 a.m. to deliver a letter to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Alausa. The protest is to support ASUU in the ongoing strike. So, we call on all affiliate members to come out en masse,’’ she added.
Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions have been directed to gather at the Ikeja underbridge for the rally.
Lagos State ASUU and SSANU chairmen, Dr Dele Ashiru and Mr Olushola Showunmi, respectively, said that the take-off point was at Ikeja by 7.30 am, adding that they would march peacefully to the Lagos State Governor’s office at Alausa.
ASUU Zonal Coordinator, Lagos State, Dr Adelaja Odukoya, said the protest was for liberation of the nation’s tertiary education, noting that lecturers were being paid slave salaries. A group, Reform Education Nigeria, similarly announced its support for the proposed solidarity protest by the NLC.