ASUU: Union Confirms Suspension Of Strike, Says Issues Yet To Be Addressed Satisfactorily

Following the news of the suspension of the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) by sources from the National Executive Council (NEC) in the early hours of Friday, the union has confirmed the report's validity.

The union in a statement signed by its National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke said the industrial action had been suspended following the NEC meeting which started on Thursday and lasted till Friday morning at the union's secretariat in Abuja.

“The National Executive Council of ASUU held an emergency meeting at the Comrade Festus Iyayi National Secretariat, University of Abuja, Abuja, on Thursday, October 13, 2022,” the statement read in part.

ASUU in the statement referred to the move by the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Chris Ngige, who dragged the union to the National Industrial Court where its members were asked to resume work.

"The National Industrial Court, in its wisdom, gave an order compelling ASUU to resume work pending the determination of the substantive suit.

"Given the nature of the order, and in the opinion of our counsel, there was the need to appeal the interlocutory injunction granted against our union at the Court of Appeal.

“The Court of Appeal acknowledged the validity of the grounds of the union’s appeal but still upheld the order of the lower court and ordered our union to comply with the ruling of the lower court as a condition precedent for the appeal to be heard," the statement added.

While appreciating the leadership of the House of Representatives and well-meaning Nigerians for intervening in the resolution process of the impasse between ASUU and the Federal Government, the statement noted that the issues in dispute were yet to be addressed satisfactorily.

“NEC noted the series of meetings with the leadership of the House of Representatives led by the Hon. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as intervention efforts of other well-meaning Nigerians both within and outside the government and the progress made so far.”

“While appreciating the commendable efforts of the leadership of the House of Representatives and other patriotic Nigerians who waded into the matter, NEC noted with regrets that the issues in dispute were yet to be satisfactorily addressed.

“However, as a law-abiding union and in deference to appeals by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and in recognition of the efforts of Hon. Gbajabiamila, and other well-meaning Nigerians, ASUU NEC resolved to suspend the strike action embarked upon on February 14, 2022.

"Consequently, all members of ASUU are hereby directed to resume all services hitherto withdrawn with effect from 12:01 on Friday, October 14, 2022,” the statement concluded.