In a bid to create a united pack in the middle of ongoing struke afflicting Nigeria’s tertiary education system, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday convened an emergency meeting with the leadership of major academic and non-academic unions across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

The meeting, which is currently taking place at the NLC’s national headquarters in Abuja, brings together the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), among others.

The engagement marks a critical moment in the labour movement’s effort to coordinate a national response to the deepening crisis in the education sector.

According to the NLC, the session aims to harmonise union positions and “find lasting solutions” to the issues that have stemmed from “failed negotiations with the Federal Government.”

Nigeria’s higher education sector has faced years of instability, but the latest shutdown — triggered by a nationwide ASUU strike — has once again halted academic activities across universities.

ASUU National President, Prof Chris Piwuna, had announced the strike during a press briefing at the University of Abuja on Sunday, after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government on September 28.

The union cited unresolved issues bordering on staff welfare, infrastructure, salary arrears, and the long-standing 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.

Reaffirming its stance, the NLC restated full solidarity with ASUU and other tertiary education unions, calling for robust participation from all union leaders. It also underscored a principle that has become central to the ongoing dispute — “No Pay, No Work” — while urging the government to honour collective agreements and respect the rights of workers.

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warned that it may convene an emergency congress with its affiliates if the Nigerian government fails to address the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following its ongoing two-week warning strike.

In a statement signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, the NLC condemned what it described as the government’s intimidation tactics, particularly its resort to the “No Work, No Pay” policy.

The Congress said this approach would only deepen the crisis in Nigeria’s already struggling tertiary education system.

According to Ajaero, the Nigerian government’s failure to honour its own agreements with university lecturers and other education sector workers is the root cause of the current industrial action.

“The commencement of a two-week warning strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is a direct consequence of the Federal Government’s refusal to honour collectively bargained agreements. This action is a necessary response to the neglect of a fundamental pillar of our society,” NLC said.

The NLC further criticised the application of the “No Work, No Pay” policy, stressing that it was the government, not the lecturers, that had breached contractual obligations.

“The breach of contract lies with the state, not the scholars. The lecturers are willing to work, but the government, by reneging on its commitments, has made it impossible for them to do so with the dignity and conditions their profession deserves,” Ajaero said.

Highlighting the broader implications of the crisis, the Congress warned that failure to address the issues could further marginalize millions of young Nigerians.

“This creates an educational divide that limits social mobility and perpetuates inequality,” the NLC noted, adding that an educated populace remains essential for national progress.

Reaffirming its solidarity with ASUU and other unions in the education sector, the NLC said it would not stand idly by while the future of the country is compromised.

“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,” the statement concluded.

The NLC warned that if the Nigerian government fails to act decisively by the end of ASUU’s two-week warning strike, it would mobilise its structures nationwide and convene an emergency congress to determine broader labour actions in support of the lecturers.