The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged Nigerians to join the solidarity protest by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and other workers’ unions.

The protest is to show solidarity with lecturers in Nigeria’s public universities who are currently on strike.

ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke made the call in an interview on Tuesday.

“The whole nation should be protesting, not just the workers. Their children are at home, and the children are appealing to every Nigerian. They are deliberately kept at home while those who are supposed to resolve the issue have their children attending schools abroad.

“It is a national thing, not just workers alone. But I want to commend the workers for their gesture. It is a national issue; it is for all Nigerians,” Osodeke said.

Recall that last weekend, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) directed its state councils to mobilise for a nationwide protest in support of ASUU’s ongoing strike.

The nationwide protest is to hold July 26 and 27.

The National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) has directed its members to join the protest.

On Monday, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP) vowed to shut down the nation’s airports in solidarity with ASUU.

Similarly, the Coalition of Northern Groups Students Wing (CNG-SW) ordered its chapters across the 19 Northern states to prepare for protests in support of the striking lecturers.

ASUU embarked on an industrial action on February 14 over unmet demands by the Federal Government.

The strike, which clocked 156 days on Tuesday, has resulted in the suspension of all academic activities in most public universities in the country.