Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has dismissed claim that it will suspend the nine months old strike in public universities in Nigeria.
The presidency through the Minister of Labour and Employment , Dr.Chris Ngige had last week announced that the striking Lecturers would suspend their Industrial action this week.
But the National President of ASUU,Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi on Wednesday said the union was considering the Federal Government’s offer.
Ogunyemi in a statement explained that members of the union and government negotiating teams lack such power to suspend the strike.
“To put the records straight, the Principal Officers and Trustees, who constitute the core of representatives of ASUU at negotiation meetings with the government, are not constitutionally empowered to suspend any strike action" ,he stated
According to him,“Whatever comes out of an engagement with agents of the government is an offer, which must be taken back to the branches through the various organs of the union.
The ASUU president clarified that
“Views and perspectives on offers by governments are aggregated and presented to government agents as counter-offers.
He added that union in line with its traditions would always have strategy of counter offer until ASUU National Executive Council finally approves what it consider acceptable offer from government
“It is only then that any strike action by ASUU can be suspended.”
He explained that ASUU would present government offer in the November 27 meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige to its members through the established tradition, saying“The latest offer by the government makes proposals on nearly all items of demand by the union with timelines.
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