The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its two-week warning strike after overnight deliberations with government officials.
ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the decision at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday. He said the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which ended around 4:00 a.m., led to the resolution.
According to Piwuna, the decision followed renewed government engagement over the draft renegotiation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement.
“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,” he said.
Piwuna added that NEC acknowledged government’s return to the negotiation table and the role played by stakeholders.
“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,” he explained.
The decision comes days after the union declared a complete and comprehensive industrial action on October 13.
ASUU’s demands include the full implementation of the 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, payment of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, sustainable funding for public universities, and an end to the victimization of lecturers at LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO.
ASUU demands release of withheld deductions, payment of four-year promotion arrears, and settlement of 25–35% outstanding wages.
