JUST IN: ASUU Ends Two-Week Warning Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its ongoing two-week warning strike following a marathon meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja.

The National President of the union, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the decision during a press briefing on Wednesday, explaining that the meeting, which began on Tuesday, lasted overnight and ended at about 4:00 a.m.

Piwuna said the strike, which began on October 13, was a response to the government’s failure to meet some of the union’s long-standing demands.

“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,” he said.

ASUU had earlier declared the warning strike to press for the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, payment of withheld salaries spanning three and a half months, improved funding and revitalisation of public universities, and an end to the alleged victimisation of lecturers in LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO.

Other issues raised by the union include the settlement of outstanding 25–35 per cent salary arrears, payment of over four years of promotion arrears, and release of withheld third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and union dues.