UPAN Urges FG To Combat Trade Unions Insurgency

UPAN Urges FG To Combat Trade Unions Insurgency

PRESS RELEASE

United Patriots Assembly of Nigeria commends SSANU-NASU for suspending over five months old industrial action – urge ASSU to emulate her sister workforce.

Rising from an emergency meeting on the state of our country, especially the notorious slide to trade unions insurgency – which partly account for rising costs of foodstuffs, as a result of traders union imposing a monopoly on farmers and importers of consumables. The State and Federal Government should urgently wade in, as salaries of public and private sector personnel hardly impact the family due to the disheartening influence of the market)trade unions.

We hereby commend the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and other Associated Institutions for the suspension of their more than five-month-old strike.

We wish to state that the transformation we desire cannot be achieved by brigandage, insurrection, or boycotting work at the detriment of the common man and woman, as well as our teeming youth – it can only come through constructive and strategic engagement with our good, and failing leaders as a collective. Trade unions leadership must show empathy on matters of public interests. If agreements reasonably require review due to unpredicted economic realities, it has to be diligently reviewed factoring realistic barometers for concessions and reviews in future.

UPAN is worried that Trade unions tendency towards strike action in which they down tools at every slightest excuse should be checked by reassuring legislations to safeguard public interest from being ruined. As we speak, students have lost almost a session and their hope if graduation is utterly unassured. This is not a progressive path envisioned for our youths. Negotiation over agreements between Federal Government are formed, yet, relevant and the unions should be a continuous exercise. As a sociopolitical organization, we have a duty to sensitize Government and non-governmental stakeholders on a sustainable path for our country’s future.
We wish to use this medium to urge the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to emulate the selfless dispositions of its sister-unions, putting into consideration the plight of Nigerian students and suspend industrial action that have led to the disruption of activities in Nigeria’s public universities for the past 185 days. Trade unions, especially those in the education sector must refrain from actions that portray them as holding Nigeria Government to ransom,

As a people-driven organization, we urge students in Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions to shun tendencies that will derail social security and peace in our country. The Federal Government should speed up actions that will promote cordial relations and harmony amongst all the trade unions.

Amb. Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo fcdm,
The National Facilitator,
United Patriots Assembly of Nigeria (UPAN)