The crisis in the education has taken another dimension, as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) together with the leadership of all tertiary education-based unions in Nigeria have unanimously issued a four-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to resolve all pending demands and lingering issues causing industrial disharmony in the nation’s education sector, or risk a total shutdown.

The ultimatum emerged from a unified front initiated and facilitated by the President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who brought together all tertiary education unions affiliated with the Congress on Monday in Abuja, to chart the next steps for industrial action and explore strategies to safeguard the welfare of university staff, as well as the quality and continuity of public tertiary education in Nigeria.

The unions were: the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU).

At the meeting which was held behind closed-doors, the unions unanimously vowed to henceforth, resist the government’s divide-and-rule tactics in addressing issues affecting tertiary education and its workforce.

The NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero who spoke with newsmen after the meeting, condemned the no-work-no-pay policy introduced by the government as a form of sanction to members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), for daring to embark on a nationwide strike.

He said: “The NLC, after extensive deliberations with the unions in tertiary institutions on finding lasting solutions to the perennial problems in that sector, resolved to ensure we put an end to the recurring challenges these institutions face.

“We have decided to establish a framework for engagement towards the implementation of agreements, outstanding agreements, and sustainable funding of education in line with the UNESCO recommendation of 25 to 26 percent budgetary allocation to education, as well as a review of wage structures and allowances in tertiary institutions and respect for trade union rights and collective bargaining.

“We have decided to give the federal government four weeks to conclude all negotiation in this sector. They have started talks with ASUU but the problem in this sector goes beyond ASUU.

“That is why we are extending this to four weeks. If after four weeks this negotiation is not concluded, the organs of the NEC will meet and take a nationwide action that all workers in the country, all unions in the country will be involved so that we get to the root of all this.

“The era of signing agreements, negotiations and threatening the unions involved, that era has come to an end.

“The policy, the so-called policy of no work, no pay, will henceforth be no pay, no work. You can’t benefit from an action you instigated. We have discovered that most, 90% of strike actions in this country are caused by failure to obey agreements.”

Ajaero expressed frustration over government representatives who attend meetings without proper mandates, saying: “We discovered that those government officials sent to meetings go there without mandates. Henceforth, no trade union, whether in tertiary institutions or elsewhere, will attend any meeting with government representatives who lack a mandate.

“You sign an agreement and then go back to renege, never again. We will not condone this act. All over the world, agreements are held in very serious regard.”

Ajaero added, “You can’t refuse to obey agreements and then punish the other party. It’s a matter of cause and effect, the person who caused the problem should be ready to bear the consequences. You can’t beat the child and ask the child not to cry.”

ASUU President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, said the alliance had become necessary following government’s perpetual habit of reneging on agreements and it’s divisive tactics in dealing with unions in the sector.

Piwuna pledged ASUU’s full commitment to the “one-voice, one-action” alliance aimed at compelling the government to honour its agreements and treat workers fairly.

Piwuna also hinted that as ASUU’s current warning strike approaches its expiration, the union’s next course of action would be integrated into the alliance’s four-week ultimatum to ensure a unified and coordinated response across all tertiary education unions.

SSANU National President, Comrade Mohammed Ibrahim who reaffirmed his union’s total support for the alliance and its unity of purpose, commended the NLC for its wisdom in bringing the unions together under one accord, describing the move as a step towards progress.

Ibrahim stressed that the unions were partners in national development and in ensuring the improvement of Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, but lamented the government’s continued disregard for agreements.

“The unions are frustrated by the government’s attitude and behavior in adhering to and implementing agreements it freely signed with us.”

The SSANU President added that the alliance has become a necessary instrument to drive progress and accountability in the system.

Leaders of NASU, NAAT, ASUP, SSANIP, COEASU, and other tertiary education-based unions also reaffirmed their commitment to the alliance.

They jointly condemned the government’s divide-and-rule tactics in its engagements and declared readiness to abide by the NLC’s guidance and direction regarding the four-week ultimatum and the possible nationwide industrial action that may follow should government fail to act within the stipulated period.