The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced the suspension of its ongoing two-week warning strike.
The announcement was made by the National President of ASUU, Prof. Chris Piwuna, during a press briefing held in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Piwuna, the decision followed a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC), which lasted overnight and concluded at about 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
He explained that the union embarked on the strike due to the Federal Government’s delay in addressing its long-standing demands, but decided to suspend it after observing some progress in negotiations.
“We’ve had useful engagements with representatives of the government regarding the draft renegotiation of the 2009 agreements. Although we are not yet where we should be, there has been noticeable movement since the commencement of the strike,” Piwuna said.
He added that ASUU acknowledged the government’s decision to return to the negotiation table and that the decision to suspend the strike was made in recognition of the efforts of students, parents, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) who intervened in the matter.
“Consequently, NEC resolved to suspend the warning strike to reciprocate the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians,” he stated.
ASUU had earlier declared the two-week total and comprehensive warning strike on Monday, October 13, over the government’s failure to meet its key demands.
The union’s demands include:
—Conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement.
—Release of withheld three and a half months’ salaries.
—Sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities,
—End to the victimisation of lecturers in LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO.
—Payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears.
—Payment of over four years of promotion arrears, and
—Release of withheld third-party deductions, including cooperative contributions and union check-off dues.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.