Gov. Hope Uzodimma has reassured Imo’s organized labor that the federal government is not indifferent to the country’s struggling students.
Uzodimma provided the reassurance on Tuesday in Owerri while speaking to organized labor protesters who were being led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
NLC joined the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the protest and demanded that the Federal Government uphold the agreements made with ASUU in order to put an end to the six-month strike.
“I am also in solidarity with you; I want to assure you that the Federal Government is not insensitive to the plights of our children in school.
“I want to urge you to be patient,” he said.
He said that the Federal Government was actively pursuing a solution to the problem.
The governor advised ASUU members to “temper justice with mercy” while also encouraging them to consider student interests in addition to those of the Federal Government.
Uzodimma also gave the state’s workers his word that he would work hard to advance their welfare and safeguard their rights.
Earlier, Mr. Philip Nwansi, the state chairman of the NLC, urged the governor to intervene in the ongoing conflict between the Federal Government and ASUU.
Nwansi said: “This protest is not against the state government.
“This protest is against the Federal Government for the state government to help us press our demand home.
“Our universities, since five months, have closed.
“Our students are roaming about; universities’ workers and lecturers are not receiving their salaries; we want to plead with the Federal Government and the state government to help us make sure that this problem is solved in no distant time,” he added.
InsightnaijaTV reports that the protesters took off from their secretariat at New Owerri and walked through major roads, including Wetheral, bank road to the Government House. (NAN)
