ASUU halts two-week warning strike after NEC parley in Abuja

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its two-week warning strike.

ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the decision on Wednesday at a briefing in Abuja after the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which ended around 4:00 a.m.

He said the strike was triggered by the Federal Government’s failure to act on critical demands within agreed timelines, but noted that engagements had resumed.

“We have had useful engagements with government representatives on the draft renegotiation of the 2009 agreement,” Piwuna said. “We are not where we were before the strike commenced, and the government has returned to the table. Though a lot more work is still required, NEC resolved to review the action.”

He added that the decision to suspend the strike was influenced by the intervention of students, parents and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

NEC, he said, voted to suspend the action “to reciprocate the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians.”

ASUU began the warning strike on October 13.

The union is demanding conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement; release of withheld three and a half months salaries; sustainable university funding; revitalisation of public varsities; and cessation of alleged victimisation of lecturers in LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University and FUTO.

Other demands include payment of 25–35 per cent salary arrears, four-year promotion arrears, and release of withheld third-party deductions.