ASUU Strike: Our Right To Protest Is Lawful, NLC President Tackles Lai Mohammed

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said that it is well within its rights to protest against the continued stay of students at home, following failure of the authorities to reach an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

NLC President Ayuba Wabba in a statement on Wednesday, said “it is elementary knowledge, that the right to peaceful assembly and protest is fundamental global rights guaranteed by the UN Charter on Human and Peoples’ right and the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria”.

Wabba’s comment was in reply to a statement by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Lai Mohammed, suggesting that a proposed NLC protest in solidarity with ASUU is illegal.

Mr Mohammed told State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari that the NLC was in no dispute with the federal government and as such considers its planned street protest illegal.

The Information Minister added that NLC’s planned action was based on self-interest and a planned action was capable of stoking anarchy and called on the union to insulate itself completely from politics.

Wabba, who insisted the union would carry on as planned, said the proposed march is not a solidarity protest, and that the NLC is directly involved in the current dispute in the nation’s university system.

He emphasised that all peaceful assembly is lawful and does not require any permission under the law.