The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called off its 8 months old strike today. The National Executive Council of the union held a series of meetings yesterday to finalize the call to end the protracted strike. However, many of the branches of the union have voted for the suspension of the strike.

ASUU went on strike on February 14, and called off the strike on October 14. The lingering industrial action has generated a lot of controversies. It has made many to inveigh ASUU and the federal government. Stakeholders in the education sector berated the FG for being insensitive towards the welfarism of its employees. They also criticized ASUU of its insensitivity towards the plight of the Nigerian students.

Both ASUU and FG became obstinate. The FG through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, sued ASUU to court in the Industrial Court. The verdict of the jury of the Industrial Court mandated ASUU to resume academic activities on campuses. Nonetheless, the body filed a suit to the court of appeal in Abuja against the verdict of the Industrial Court. The court of appeal panel asserted that before it could hear the suit of ASUU, the body should first obey the verdict of the Industrial Court.

In the last few days, there were a lot of reports suggesting the possible reactions of ASUU towards the verdict of the court of appeal. However, the intervention of the Speaker of The House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, had calmed the tension amidst the strike. Femi Gbajabiamila engaged in a series of meetings between the FG and ASUU. He expressly told Nigerians on Wednesday that the strike would soon be called off.

At the NEC meeting held yesterday night till the midnight of today, the body of the university lecturers has finally announced that its eight months old strike has been called off. ASUU had gone on strike in 16 months from 2022 to 2023.

With the suspension of the strike, students can now be returning on campus for academic activities. The management of every school will determine the resumption date for academic activities in their respective schools. Nevertheless, the set date for resumption is October 16.


https://www.emeritushub.com/ASUU-calls-off-its-8-months-old-strike/