ASUU Finally Suspends Strike In Public Varsities

The Academic Staff Union of University,(ASUU) has finally  suspended its nine months old strike in public universities in Nigeria , after the union's National Executive Committee meeting on Wednesday .

Edu-Biznews recalled that the union embarked on  the industrial action  last March 2020, to compel government to implement previous agreement reached on the need to improve facilities in the Nigeria's university system and create conducive  environment for learning,teaching and researching.

ASUU National President,Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, announcement the suspension of the strike to newsmen  at a briefing of the union in Abuja.

The suspension of the strike according to Ogunyemi, takes effect from Thursday, December 24th, 2020.

Edu-Biznews also recalled that Nigeria's Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige,had earlier on Tuesday, expressed confidence that the strike would be suspended, having agreed on most of the demands as at last week Thursday which was later finalized at another meeting by both parties on Tuesday.

Ngige assured Nigerians that the prolonged strike by the varsity lecturers would be called off before January 15, 2021, saying some people who want take advantage of the situation to stage EndsASUU strike protest and cause confusion in the country would be disappointed.

National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) leadership had also threatened to close down major roads in the country in protest , if both ASUU and Federal Government fail to reach agreement and end the strike by January 15 deadline. 

Ogunyemi speaking at the briefing, said the lecturers sympathised with students who were also their children, adding that “no amount of sacrifice would be too much to get the matter resolved as long as the government is consistent with its commitments.”

The union however  warned the presidency that ASUU  would return to the strike if the government fails to do the needful as agreed  with the university lecturers at the last meeting.

Ogunyemi said that the reopening of the schools, would now be determined  by the Federal Government and Senate of various Universities, following the COVID-19 pandemic new guidelines.

The Federal Government had during the November 27 meeting with the union pledged N40bn as the Earned Allowance and N30bn for the revitalisation of the university system bringing the total payment to N70bn.

‌Some of the lecturers, it was learnt had started receiving Alert since last week Thursday for payment of two months of their outstanding salaries since March when the union rejected IPPIS payment platform and insisted on its own UTAS payment platform.