ASUU Suspends Two-Week Warning Strike

By Chinedu Echianu

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its two-week warning strike following fresh engagements with the Federal Government.

ASUU National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, announced the decision at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, after a marathon National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that lasted overnight and ended around 4:00 a.m.

Piwuna said the union called off the strike to reciprocate the government’s decision to return to the negotiation table, as well as the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians.

He noted that the action was initially taken due to delays in meeting the union’s key demands.

ASUU had declared the warning strike on Monday, October 13, to press for the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU–Federal Government agreement, payment of withheld three and a half months’ salaries, improved and sustainable funding of public universities, and revitalization of the tertiary education system.

The union also demanded an end to what it described as the victimization of its members in Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

With the suspension, ASUU says it expects the government to demonstrate sincerity in addressing the pending issues to avoid another round of industrial action.