Garba Mohammed
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced the suspension of its ongoing two-week warning strike. The union’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, made the announcement during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Piwuna, the decision followed an overnight meeting of ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC), which concluded at 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday. The union had initially embarked on the strike due to the government’s failure to meet its demands within the stipulated timeframe.
“We’ve had useful engagements with representatives of the government to consider the response to the draft renegotiation of the 2009 agreements. While we are not yet where we want to be, the NEC concluded that the ongoing strike should be reviewed,” Piwuna stated. He noted that the decision was influenced by appeals from students, parents, and the Nigeria Labour Congress.
ASUU had declared a comprehensive warning strike starting Monday, October 13, demanding the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, the release of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, sustainable funding for public universities, and revitalisation of public institutions.
The union also seeks an end to the victimisation of lecturers in Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), as well as payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears, promotion arrears spanning over four years, and release of withheld third-party deductions, including cooperative contributions and union check-off dues.
While the suspension of the strike is a relief to students and parents across the country, ASUU emphasized that negotiations are ongoing, and further action may be taken if demands are not satisfactorily addressed.