Asefon Abdulganeey Stephen
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, through its president, Prof. Chris Piwuna, has announced the suspension of its ongoing two-week warning strike in a press meeting in Abuja on the 22nd of this month.
According to Punch Newspapers, the decision was a result of the meeting of the National Executive Council, which was held overnight and ended by 4:00 am on Wednesday. The strike is said to have been suspended as a result of engagement between the FG and the ASUU members.
In the speech of the ASUU president, he said, “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.”
Additionally, the NEC has declared that the strike should be reviewed since the FG has come to a negotiating table. ASUU, however, demands a quick and final response to their demand in order to foster a continuing and quality education in Nigerian academic institutions.
