President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has called for unionization of private universities.

He tasked the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to begin the conversation around unionizing private universities.

Ajaero spoke on Sunday during The Toyin Falola Interviews Series tagged, “A conversation with the President of ASUU, Professor Christopher Piwuna.

The virtual conversation featured ASUU President and other members of the academic community who were discussing the incessant ASUU strikes and how the tertiary education system can be stabilized.

The NLC President declared that the “incessant harassment” of ASUU and its members must stop, wondering why the government would sign an agreement willingly since 2009 without implementing it.

Besides, he recalled that the creation of ASUU was meant to spite the NLC and the government said the academic union must not be affiliated to NLC because it is a senior staff association, adding that that classification was challenged by the NLC and it won.

He stated that private universities were created to undermine ASUU, adding that efforts must be made to unionize them.

Daily Trust reports that private universities have been insulated from the recurring ASUU strikes because of the absence of ASUU or any academic union in those universities.

He called for synergy among university unions to harmonize their demands from the government.

ASUU President, Prof. Piwuna said universities can only have the desired freedom if the staff have adequate facilities to work.

He stated that contrary to the insinuation in some quarters, ASUU members are not selfish, saying they continue to endure all sorts of intimidation from the government.

Professor Francis Egbokhare pointed out what he called “ideological problem” between the government and ASUU, saying while ASUU is thinking of how to improve the tertiary education system by demanding for better welfare and facilities for teaching and research, the government is thinking otherwise, looking at the role of unions from a different perspective.

He stated that there must be ideological convergence to ensure the Nigerian people (students) do not continue to suffer. (Daily Trust)