The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the government of Rivers state are in a form of disagreement over the national protest planned by the congress in support of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The Chairman of NLC, Mr. Wabba had earlier stated that the labour group and every other union affiliated with it will embark on a one day national protest over the strike action of university lecturers that have kept student at home.
With respect to this planned protest, the Head of Service for Rivers state, Dr Rufus Godwin recently disclosed that any civil servant who joins the strike on ground of sympathy will be punished as their own universities are opened and the state government is not owing its lecturers and civil servants. He further stated that if the Federal Government cannot handle about 170 universities in the country, then they should be closed down.
In response to the threat issued by the state government, the chairperson of NLC Rivers state, Mrs. Itubo Beatrice described their threat as an empty one as the state government has no right to stop civil servants from playing their part in the planned protest.