The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given the Federal Government four weeks to complete all ongoing negotiations in the tertiary education sector. Mr. Joe Ajaero, NLC President, issued the ultimatum at an emergency news conference in Abuja on Monday, following a lengthy meeting with unions at tertiary institutions. Ajaero explained that the decision stemmed from years of unfulfilled promises and chronic underfunding of Nigeria’s education sector, which has led to repeated strikes and instability in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Ajaero announced that the NLC was giving the federal government a four-week deadline to conclude all ongoing negotiations in the sector.
The NLC president said the congress was working closely with education unions to find lasting solutions to the sector’s challenges. He also revealed that a framework had been set up to facilitate the implementation of pending agreements and promote sustainable funding for education.
He further urged the government to review wage structures and allowances for both academic and non-academic staff to reflect current economic realities. “The welfare of our education workers is vital to achieving quality education. We cannot expect world-class results while relying on outdated pay structures,” he added.
Ajaero criticized the government’s negotiation style, saying many officials often attend meetings without the authority to make binding decisions. “It is unacceptable for representatives to come to the table without mandates. This has been a major reason for the recurring crises in the education sector,” he said.
He reaffirmed the NLC’s commitment to defending workers’ rights, declaring that the era of signing agreements only to abandon them was over. “We will not stand by while our education system continues to deteriorate. If the government fails to act, we will mobilize all unions to demand justice and fairness,” Ajaero vowed.