On July 27, 2022, the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, relocated their demonstration to Abuja's National Assembly.
Security had been stepped up at the Legislative Houses before the Labour Union arrived, with intimidating security personnel dispersed throughout the campus.
There was a ton of foot and vehicle traffic, making it challenging for drivers to enter the complex.
A few minutes after the NLC arrived in the compound, the Senate proceedings—which had already begun at around 11:00 with the opening prayer by the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan—went into a closed-door session.
Mr. Ayuba Wabba, the National President, led the demonstration on Wednesday.
The students' leadership is also a part of the demonstration on Wednesday. The Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and the National Youth Council leadership are also present.
Though the leadership of the National Assembly was yet to address protesters at the time of filing this report, it is recalled that, the NLC which is identifying with ASUU and is, “demanding for replacement of the inconsistent IPPIS with U3PA payment platform; respect/honour collective bargaining agreement that was freely and mutually reached with ASUU”, among others.
On Tuesday, July 26, 2022, Mr. Ben Ukpepi, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Cross River Council, revealed that the union would go on a total strike if the Federal Government did not resolve the ongoing concerns with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The government did nothing while the entire tertiary education system was closed from February 14 to July 26, according to Dr. John Edor, Chairman of ASUU's University of Calabar Chapter.
According to Edor, the Federal Government choose to observe the agreements in violation and default during the most recent industrial action they conducted in 2020, despite a memorandum being signed in December and a timeframe for particular actions being established.
He claims that there are a number of agreements and memoranda that have yet to be put into effect, therefore now is the moment for execution; the Federal Government must do this before we go back to the classroom.
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