NLC Faults FG’s Closure Of Unity Colleges In N/East

The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has faulted the Federal Government’s decision to shut down five Federal Government Colleges in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states as a result of the recent massacre of secondary school students in Buni Yadi, Yobe state, by suspected Boko Haram members, describing the decision as reactionary and unhelpful to education development in the country.     

Addressing a news conference in Kaduna, NLC Vice President, Isa Aremu, while condemning the killing of the students, noted that closing down the schools will have grave consequences on the academic future of the students especially for those already preparing for their WAEC and NECO examinations.

According to Aremu, if the federal government could protect a few dignitaries that attended the just concluded centenary celebration, it should be more upbeat and proactive to guarantee the security of all citizens, including students.

He called on the National Assembly to urgently organise a public hearing on the massacre of the students in order to unravel the mystery surrounding the incident, pointing out that what government should do is to provide adequate security to those schools and not to close them down.

Threatens Nationwide Strike     

On the seven months old strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the Congress threatened to call a nationwide industrial action if the Federal Government fails to end the ongoing strike by the lecturers.

Aremu said it was unfortunate that the government had not taken the expected steps to stop the ongoing strike that had crippled academic activities in public polytechnics.

He also asked the federal government  to immediately conclude negotiations with the striking lecturers so that they can return to classes.

He lamented what he described as government’s insensitivity to develop the education sector, despite its quest to be among the 20 leading economies in the world by the year 2020.