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By Victory Oghene
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its ongoing two-week warning strike.
The ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the suspension during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
He explained that the decision followed a marathon National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that lasted through the night and concluded around 4am.
According to Piwuna, the strike was originally declared in response to the Nigerian government’s failure to meet the union’s longstanding demands within the agreed timeline.
“We’ve had useful engagements with representatives of the government to consider the response to the draft renegotiation of the 2009 agreements. However, we are definitely not where we were prior to the commencement of the strike.
“The union acknowledged that the government returned to the negotiation table. While noting that a lot more work is still required, NEC came to the conclusion that the ongoing strike should be reviewed. The decision to review the strike action was a result of efforts by our students, parents, and the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“Consequently, NEC resolved to suspend the warning strike to reciprocate the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians.”
It should be recalled that ASUU had declared a total and comprehensive warning strike beginning Monday, October 13.
The union’s demands include the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, payment of the withheld three and a half months’ salaries, sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities, as well as an end to the alleged victimisation of its members at LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO.
ASUU is also demanding the payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears, settlement of over four years of promotion arrears, and the release of withheld third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and union check-off dues.
