By Banke Ini

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced a suspension of its 8-month-old industrial action. As stated in the press release by Emmanuel Osodeke, President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on October 13, 2022, the union has agreed to suspend the strike action that took effect since 14th February, 2022.

On Thursday 13th October, 2022, an emergency meeting was held at the Comrade Festus Iyayi National Secretariat, University of Abuja by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to re-examine developments since the indefinite strike action was declared by the union on the 29th of August, 2022.

The Minister of Labour and Employment asked for an interlocutory order against the extension of the strike after approaching the National Industrial Court (NIC) for the elucidation of the provision of sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 18(1) of the Trade Dispute Act Cap T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria as to the legality of the strike action even after his statutory intervention. There was the need to appeal at the court of Appeal the interlocutory command given against the union by the National Industrial Court which stated that ASUU resumed work pending the determination of the considerable unit. The Court of Appeal still ordered ASUU to comply with the ruling of the lower court as condition prior for the appeal to be heard even after the validity of the grounds of the union’s appeal had been acknowledged.

NEC acknowledged the series of meetings with the House of Representatives led by Hon. speaker, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as efforts of well meaning Nigerians both within and outside the government. The careful reflection of the suggestions of Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila-led committee within the framework of FGN/ASUU Memorandum of Action (MoA) of 2020 was noted by NEC in reaction to the issues of contention that led to the strike. These issues which include: funding for the revitalization of public universities, earned academic allowances, proliferation of public universities, visitation panels/release of write papers, University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a broad spectrum software and renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, are yet to be satisfactorily addressed.

However, in compliance to appeals made by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and efforts of the speaker of the house of Representatives, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and other well meaning Nigerians; as a law abiding union, ASUU NEC agreed to suspend the 8 month strike action which started since 14th February, 2022. Thus, every member of ASUU are implored to resume all services with effect from 12:01 on Friday, 14th October, 2022.

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