The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has drawn a battle line with the Federal Government, FG, over the deepening crisis in the country’s public tertiary education sector, declaring full solidarity with all unions currently engaged in the struggle for improved funding and implementation of outstanding agreements.
In a letter by its President, Joe Ajaero, the NLC announced an emergency meeting of all affiliate unions in the education sector to forge a unified strategy against what it described as government’s persistent breach of collectively bargained agreements and its resort to intimidation through the “no work, no pay” policy.
Quoting the letter dated October 14, 2025, and addressed to the Presidents and General Secretaries of the following unions the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education, Nigeria, SSUCOEN, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture, ASUCA, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions, ASURI, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, SSANIP, the NLC wrote:
“The NLC conveys its fraternal greetings to you and your esteemed unions. You are undoubtedly aware of the ongoing crisis in our nation’s public tertiary education system, as highlighted in our Press Release of 13th October, 2025, in which some of your unions are already fully engaged.
“The commencement of a two-week warning strike by ASUU and the various ultimatums issued by most of your unions to the Federal Government are direct consequences of government’s persistent refusal to honour collectively bargained agreements.”
The Congress explained that the meeting was convened to develop a unified strategy that would strengthen labour’s engagement with government on the unresolved issues affecting the education sector.
The NLC noted that the fight for the survival of public education was a collective one and warned that no union should be left to struggle in isolation.
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