Breaking: ASUU Suspends 8 Month Strike

• Students to contend with house rent, wasted full academic year.

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has resolved to call off its eight months old strike, thus making way for the reopening of the country’s public universities across the nation.

The decision to suspend the prolonged industrial action came after an all-night meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU in Abuja.

A reliable member of the Union’s NEC stated that they agreed to suspend the strike conditionally based on the assurances given by the federal government to offset its salary arrears, and to meet its stated demands within given timelines.

Although details of the demands and timelines were not immediately made available, the source said that this will be provided in a press conference which will be addressed by the ASUU president later today.

Federal government had dragged ASUU to the National Industrial Court following the breakdown of negotiations.

Consequently, the Court granted government’s plea for an injunction for ASUU members to resume work pending the resolution of the case.  The order of the court for ASUU to resume work was also upheld by the appeal court after the union approached it.

The appeal court gave ASUU up till today to obey its directive or be charged with contempt.

However, within the intervening period, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila waded into the issue and brokered some agreements which was presented to President Muhammadu Buhari for approval.

ASUU convened the NEC meeting which comprises the chairmen of state chapters and members of the national executive to brainstorm on the responses of its members and possibly suspend their strike.

Meanwhile, students have uphill tasks to contend with as they return to school, namely the issue of house rent for off-campus students and full academic that has already been wasted.