It is now official.
The Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) has suspended its 10-month long strike.
In a tweet posted on Wednesday morning, it announced: #Breaking: ASUU suspends 10month strike conditionally. Congratulations to all undergraduates. #ASUU
The teachers’ union had embarked a strike since February 2020 calling for more funding for public universities and renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, outstanding earned academic allowances, proliferation of universities by state governments and the constitution of Visitation Panels to Federal Universities, the planned forceful imposition of IPPIS on universities, and the failure of the federal government to pay outstanding strike-days salaries.
They also want the federal government to declare a five-year State of Emergency on the education sector during which at least 20 per cent of the budget and same percentage of states’ budgets should be allocated to education.
The federal government and ASUU had been in negotiations right up to Tuesday night where it was agreed that strike-day salaries would be paid, a development which pleased the union to the extent of the suspension of the strike.
UPDATE: ASUU issues a statement:
The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) on Wednesday “conditionally” suspended its strike, ending a protracted industrial action that started since March 2020. He said the suspension of the strike takes effect from Thursday, December 24th, 2020.
ASUU National President, Biodun Ogunyemi made the announcement during a briefing of the union in Abuja, explaining that the development followed the agreement reached with the Federal Government and a meeting with its National Executive Council (NEC).
While warning that the union would return to strike without notice if the government fails in meeting its part of the agreement reached with the university lecturers, Ogunyemi noted that the reopening of the schools, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, lies with the FG and Senate.
Professor Ogunyemi thanked students and their parents for their understanding throughout the nine-month period and said: “no amount of sacrifice would be too much to get the matter resolved as long as the government is consistent with its commitments.”
