The Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers have called on the Federal Government to urgently and in the interest of the nation put an end to the lingering strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
A statement signed by NAAPE’s Deputy General Secretary, Umoh Ofonime, read, “The refusal of the Federal Government to honour the agreement signed with the union since 2009 is very disturbing considering the negative impact the prolonged strike will create in the life of these children.
“NAAPE, therefore, completely supports the position of the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress to embark on a nationwide protest on July 26 and 27, 2022 in solidarity with the trade unions in the Nigeria Public Universities and others.”
In a statement made available to the press on Monday, the General Secretary of ANAP, Comrade Abdulrasaq Saidu called on President, Major General Mohammadu Buhari’s (retd.) government, to end without further delay, the ongoing strike before it gets out of hand.
ANAP noted that the continuing stay at home by students of tertiary institutions has added to social vices in the country.
The group also threatened that they will join in the strike in solidarity by closing the aviation sector if the government did not take urgent necessary steps to address ASUU’s demands.
ANAP further noted that the over four months strike has ridiculed the educational system and made it a laughing stock before the world.
The union noted that ASUU, NASU, SAUTHRIAI, NAAT had been on strike for more than four months due to the apparent failure of government to sign the re-negotiated 2009 Agreement with ASUU, and the habitual failure of government to respect Collective Bargaining Agreements willingly signed with Unions.
ANAP noted that education remained the bedrock of any nation aspiring for greatness saying that ASUU strike will eventually lead to a regrettable situation in future if not well handled.
“Our children are using eight years to read courses of four years with resources being wasted. We cannot continue this way,” the statement read in part.
ANAP warned that the future of education will be bleak as little or no attention was focused on the system as most of the children of politicians were schooling abroad
The union warned that its members will align with the Nigeria Labour Congress’ position in protest against the unfortunate situation in the tertiary education sector.
According to ANAP, all its members have been put on alert in solidarity actions on the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress at very short notice.
The National Administrative Council has directed all branch chairmen and secretaries to disseminate this information to all members in their various branches to participate in the solidarity protest in their various states starting from Tuesday 26, July 2022 to Wednesday 27, July 2022 at all the states capitals of the federation and Abuja the federal capital. The take off point is NLC State Secretariats and the Labour House, Abuja.
(Punch)