The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced the suspension of its ongoing two-week warning strike.
ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, made the announcement during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Piwuna, the decision followed a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) which was held overnight and concluded around 4:00 a.m.
He explained that the strike was initially declared due to the government’s failure to meet the union’s demands on time.
“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,” Piwuna said.
He added that the government’s willingness to return to the negotiation table was noted, and while more work still needs to be done, NEC resolved to review the strike action.
“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,” he said.
ASUU had declared the two-week warning strike on Monday, October 13.
The union is demanding the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, payment of withheld salaries covering three and a half months, sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities, and an end to the victimisation of lecturers at LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO.
Other demands include 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.