ASUU Suspends Two-Week Warning Strike After Overnight NEC Meeting
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its ongoing two-week warning strike following a crucial National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held overnight in Abuja.
ASUU’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the decision during a press briefing on Wednesday, stating that the meeting, which lasted until around 4:00 a.m., resulted in the decision to temporarily halt the strike in response to recent developments.
According to Piwuna, the union’s decision to embark on the strike was triggered by the federal government’s delay in addressing its longstanding demands, but recent engagements showed some level of progress.
“We’ve had useful discussions with government representatives regarding the draft renegotiation of the 2009 agreement,” Piwuna said. “While we are not fully satisfied with the pace of progress, we acknowledge that there has been some movement compared to where we were before the strike began.”
He added that the NEC considered the appeals of students, parents, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) before deciding to suspend the warning strike.
“The government has shown a willingness to return to the negotiation table. Although much still needs to be done, NEC resolved to suspend the strike as a show of goodwill, in appreciation of the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians,” he stated.
ASUU had earlier declared the two-week warning strike on Monday, October 13, over what it described as the federal government’s failure to meet key obligations to university lecturers.
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The union’s demands include:
Conclusion and signing of the renegotiated 2009 FGN–ASUU agreement.
Payment of withheld three and a half months’ salaries.
Sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities.
End to the victimisation of lecturers in LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO.
Settlement of 25–35% salary arrears, outstanding promotion arrears, and withheld third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and union dues.
While the strike has been suspended, ASUU emphasized that it expects the government to act swiftly in fulfilling its commitments to avoid further disruptions to the academic calendar.
