By Ayo Kehinde
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced the suspension of its ongoing two-week warning strike.
Nigerian Varsity lecturers, last week, declared a two-week warning strike after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the government over the failure to implement agreements on improved welfare, university funding, and payment of withheld salaries. ASUU’s demands include the full implementation of the 2009 agreement, payment of three-and-a-half months of withheld salaries, sustainable university funding, protection from victimisation, settlement of outstanding promotion and salary arrears, and release of withheld cooperative and union deductions.
Announcing the suspension of the warning strike on Wednesday, ASUU National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, said the decision stemmed from the meeting of the National Executive Council meeting, which was held overnight and ended by 4:00 am on Wednesday.
He said, “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.
“The union acknowledged that the government returned to the negotiation table. While noting that a lot more work is still required, NEC came to the conclusion that the ongoing strike should be reviewed. 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.”
