International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative and Coalition of Civil Society, Workers and Human Rights Defenders, have called on all their associates to in the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, support protests for the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and the Nigerian students.
The call which was contained in a Press Release jointly signed and issued by representatives of the CSOs indicated that the protests take place on Tuesday, the 26th July 2022 at state levels and on Wednesday at FCT.
The release reads:
“In spirit of Comradeship and solidarity, International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative and Coalition of Civil Society, Workers and Human Rights Defenders hereby appeal to all the traditional allies in the civil liberation movement, social emancipation enterprise and lovers of true democracy, including, all the Civil society organisations, professional bodies not affiliated to any of the Labour Centres of NLC and TUC, eg, Nigeria Bar Association-NBA, Nigeria Medical Association-NMA etc; Market associations, National Employees Consultative Assembly-NECA, Tricycle (Keke) Operators Association, Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria- FIWON, Federation of International Women Lawyers-FIDA, National Consultative Front, the media and their members to come out in their numbers to participate in the scheduled rallies and procession of the organised Labour, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, the 26th July 2022 at state levels and on Wednesday at FCT.
“The rally and procession will take off by 8am from the state Secretariats of Nigeria Labour Congress across the country on Tuesday, 26th and end on Wednesday 27th July at FCT.
We, therefore appeal to all leaders of civil and faith-based/religious organisations, true patriots, persons of goodwill and noble conscience in Nigeria to take and treat the problems of Nigeria students and demands of ASUU as issues of common interest and general concern and the civic action of the rally and procession as imperative option of letting the president and government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and international community know that the problems in educational sector which ASUU is fighting for, borders on the welfare of workers in the tertiary institutions and the continuous frustration of their noble efforts will continue to destroy the destiny of Nigeria youths and the future of the nation.
“Therefore, toying with demands of ASUU and other unions in the sector have become a common problems of all Nigerians in the spirit of injury to one is injury to all principle.
Participating by all will clearly demonstrate unequivocal condemnation of insensitivity of the federal government on the legitimate demands of lecturers and the strike that has dragged for over a year, keeping students at home for so long without the government taking any proactive action to address the ugly situation, hence the resolve and solidarity of Nigeria people to declare their non-further tolerance to nonchalance and neglect of government to quality educational need of Nigerians and youths in general by Nigerian leaders and elites whose children are studying comfortably in the best universities in developed countries in the world with the resources generated by the poor parents of these deprived Nigeria workers and the masses.
“We call on all well meaning Nigerians, including the students themselves, all lecturers and non academic staff, traders associations, students unions, professionals including NBA, NMA, etc informal sector workers, all Civil society organisations, religious organizations and thier leaders, Keke operators and all affiliates of NLC and TUC to identify with the protest strike and ensure that it is total.
We also call on the leadership of organised labour and all traditional allies to use the opportunity of the protest to deliver a message to the president and government of Nigeria on issue of astronomical increase in the prices of petroleum products and tariff of energy and give the government ultimatum of immediate reversal of the ugly development and stop future subjection of Nigeria people to unnecessary and unjustified hardship and pains.
“It is only by strongly uniting together of credible democratic forces in alliance with the working people, students, army of the employed, oppressed and deprived men and women, young and old working in solidarity with one another in the spirit of understanding and internalizing the basic principle and meaning of injury to one is injury to all that we can bring about real, caring and accountable governance, social justice, stability, real peace and genuine happiness for all Nigerians.
“If we get it correct for ASUU and our students today, we will get it better for others, including all of us tomorrow. Let’s start it NOW with the cause of our students and lecturers.
~Comrade Osmond Ugwu,
President, International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative and Convener, Coalition of Civil Society, Workers and Human Rights Defenders.
~Comrade, Dr Jerry Chukwuokolo,
Secretary International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiatve.
~Comrade Chukwudi Anachuna,
Secretary of the Coalition.
