ASUU Suspends Strike after Eight Months

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have agreed to call off their eight-month strike.

The national executive council (NEC) of ASUU resolved to suspend the industrial action during its overnight meeting from Thursday to Friday.

Chris Piwuna, vice-president of the union, confirmed the suspension to BBC.

A memo formally announcing the decision of the NEC is expected to be released later on Friday.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14 over issues revolving around revitalising public universities, and a review of lecturers’ salaries and allowances, among other matters.

After several meetings to resolve the strike ended inconclusively, the federal government proceeded to the national industrial court to challenge the action.

The industrial court, in a ruling delivered on September 21, granted the federal government’s application for an interlocutory injunction to restrain ASUU from continuing with the strike pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Not satisfied with the ruling, ASUU approached the court of appeal seeking leave to challenge the lower court’s decision.

The court of appeal subsequently asked the parties to explore the option of an out-of-court settlement.

However, both parties agreed to proceed with the hearing after failing to reach a settlement.

Delivering a ruling at the resumed court session on October 7, the appeal court ordered the union to call off its strike.

The appellate court said ASUU should obey the order of the industrial court before seeking to appeal the judgment.

The panel led by Hamman Barka said for ASUU to file its notice of appeal within seven days, it must show evidence that its members have resumed work immediately.

The panel held that failure to adhere to the order will make the appeal incompetent before the court of appeal.

Following the Federal Government and ASUU’s inability to reach a deal, the union kept extending the industrial action before making it indefinite in August.

In the wake of the tussle, the Federal Government registered two factional unions –  the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA).

But ASUU had said it was not bothered about the government’s move, describing it as “illegal”.

October 14, 2022