From Noah Ebije Kaduna,
Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday to protested in solidarity with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following the lingering kecturers strike in the country, saying it is solidly behind the union.
The protesters assembled at the NLC State Secretariat on Golf Course Road, from where they marched to the state House of Assembly through Independence Way.
Leading the protest, Chairman Kaduna State Council of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman, said protest is the only language that Nigerian government understands, adding that they are solidly behind ASUU to ensure Federal government does the needful.
According to Suleiman, “This is a serious business. We want our children back to school. We are not financially bouyant to send our own children to abroad for study.”
He said, “Labour is ready to take it back by our struggle”, adding that fourty-seven (47) trade union organizations in kaduna state graced the protests.
Ayuba, who delivered a two-page written documents, further stressed that the union is dismayed by the federal government’s paralysis and reluctance to take the necessary steps that could lead to the peaceful resolution of the issues in dispute and by extension, end the strike.
He said: “On our part, we have taken various initiatives to end this strike including writing to the Ministers of Education and Labour and Employment and the presidency. Although this elicited some response from government, it was tokenistic and not sufficient.
“However, we find it appropriate to appeal to you to use your good offices and good conscience to get the federal to bring to an end this strike action.
“The immediate concern would be the immediate payment of the withheld salaries of university staff, shelve IPPIS, honour the agreements government entered into or re-
negotiate in good faith, rebuild confidences, establish a frame work for repositioning our universities for compeitve service delivery and relevance in line with their mandate.
Your Excellency, this matter, we dare say, is of grave importance national, hence this appeal to you. While we await your response,” he added.
Receiving the protesters at the state House of Assembly, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Isaac Auta Zankai, appreciated the Labour leaders, saying “On behalf of the Honourable Speaker, I want to thank you for your patience. Nobody is happy to see the students at home and our desire is to ensure the children are back to school.
“The Speaker and Chairman, Northern Speakers Forum, Hon. Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani, is currently in  Abuja, over the issue and we know soon positive response will be heard.” He noted.