ASUU suspends 2-week warning strike, as FG returns to negotiation table
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended the two-week warning strike embarked upon by the union on Monday October 13.
This was made known by the National President of the union, Prof. Chris Piwuna, in a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
The decision according to the President stemmed from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held overnight till 4:00 am on Wednesday.
According to Piwuna, the strike which began due to government’s failure to meet the union’s demands, has now been suspended, as government has returned to the negotiation table.
“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,” Piwuna said.
Recall that ASUU had commenced a two-week nationwide warning strike on Monday October 13, as the union currently demands the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, the release of withheld three and a half months’ salaries, revitalisation of public universities, sustainable funding of public universities, among other demands.
