JUST IN: ASUU Suspends 2-Week Warning Strike, Cites Progress in Negotiations
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its ongoing two-week warning strike following a resolution by its National Executive Council (NEC).
ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the suspension on Wednesday during a press briefing held in Abuja.
Piwuna explained that the decision followed an extensive NEC meeting that began Tuesday night and ended around 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
He said the union’s leadership considered recent engagements with government officials as a positive step, though several critical issues remain unresolved.
“We’ve had useful engagements with representatives of the government regarding the draft renegotiation of the 2009 agreement. While progress has been made, we are not yet where we ought to be,” Piwuna stated.
He added that the NEC decided to suspend the strike as a gesture of goodwill in recognition of appeals from students, parents, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), as well as other concerned Nigerians who intervened.
Read Also:
“The union acknowledged that the government has returned to the negotiation table. While noting that more work still needs to be done, NEC resolved to suspend the warning strike to reciprocate the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians,” he said.
The two-week warning strike, which began on October 13, was declared over the government’s alleged failure to meet several longstanding demands.
ASUU’s demands include the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, release of three and a half months of withheld salaries, sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities, and an end to the victimisation of lecturers at the Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).
The union is also demanding the payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears, promotion arrears spanning over four years, and the release of withheld third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and union check-off dues.
The latest development is expected to bring temporary relief to students and parents after days of academic disruption across public universities nationwide.
By PRNigeria
