The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government, threatening to convene an emergency congress with its affiliates if President Bola Tinubu’s administration fails to address the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following its ongoing two-week warning strike.

In a strongly worded statement signed on Monday by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, the Congress condemned what it described as the government’s “intimidation tactics,” particularly the use of the “No Work, No Pay” policy against striking lecturers. Ajaero said such an approach would only worsen the crisis in Nigeria’s already fragile tertiary education system.

According to the NLC, the strike by ASUU is a direct consequence of the Federal Government’s persistent refusal to honour agreements reached with university lecturers and other education sector unions. “The breach of contract lies with the state, not the scholars,” Ajaero said, adding that the lecturers are willing to work but have been denied the conditions and dignity their profession deserves.

The labour body further warned that the continued neglect of the education sector could deepen inequality and marginalise millions of Nigerian youths. Reaffirming its solidarity with ASUU, Ajaero declared that the NLC would not stand by while the future of the nation is jeopardised. “The struggle of ASUU is our struggle. The fight for public education is a fight for Nigeria’s future. We will no longer allow these unions to stand alone,” he said.

The NLC cautioned that if the government fails to act before the end of ASUU’s two-week warning strike, it will mobilise its structures nationwide and determine the next line of action in defence of the nation’s education system.