CDWR also condemns the Buhari-led government's neglect of public education and refusal to meet ASUU’s demands.
The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has condemned the decision of the Nigerian government to sue striking university lecturers.
The group described the suit filed by the government against the striking university lecturers — Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria as a ploy to intimidate ASUU to give up on their demand.
CDWR in a statement released on Tuesday further criticised the government's neglect of public education and its refusal to meet ASUU’s demands, urging the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to declare a solidarity protest backed with mass actions to ensure the government finds a lasting solution to the crisis.
The statement reads, "Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) condemns the Buhari-led government’s lawsuit at the National Industrial Court, Abuja against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as published by ThisDay newspaper on September 10, 2022. This latest step by the federal government is a continuation of the antics to arm-twist the union and possibly lay the legal basis to attack ASUU and its members.
"CDWR also condemns the Buhari-led government's neglect of public education and refusal to meet ASUU’s demands.
"ASUU has embarked on strike since February 14, 2022, and the strike has lingered on for 7 months over the demands on funding of university education and better welfare conditions.
"Education is an important aspect of society and should be given utmost priority but the Buhari-led government just like its predecessors are not interested in protecting public interest. Allowing public universities to close down for 7 months clearly shows the anti-people character of the Buhari-led government.
"At this stage, the solidarity of the trade union movement (Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress) is most needed. We call on the leadership of NLC and the TUC as a matter of urgency to begin the mobilization for a 48-hour warning general strike backed with mass actions to demand government meeting the demands of ASUU and other unions and protest the under-funding of public education and healthcare, rising cost of living, hike in fuel prices, hike in electricity tariff, etc.
"With this, the government can be forced to meet the demands of the striking university workers, increase funding to public education and retreat on other anti-poor policies."