The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its two-week warning strike after holding fresh discussions with the Federal Government, signaling a temporary truce in the long-running dispute over university funding and staff welfare.
The union’s National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, announced the suspension on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja, following a marathon National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that lasted through the night and ended around 4:00 a.m.
Piwuna said the decision to call off the strike was taken in good faith to encourage dialogue and in recognition of recent efforts by the government to re-engage with the union.
“We decided to suspend the warning strike to reciprocate the government’s willingness to return to the negotiation table and in appreciation of interventions from well-meaning Nigerians,” Piwuna stated.
ASUU had declared the two-week warning strike on October 13 to press for the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 ASUU–Federal Government agreement, payment of withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries, improved and sustainable funding for public universities, and the revitalisation of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
The union also demanded an end to what it described as the victimisation of members at Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).
Piwuna emphasized that while the strike has been suspended, the union expects concrete actions from the government in the coming weeks.
“We have shown goodwill by suspending the action. It is now up to the government to demonstrate sincerity and commitment to resolving these issues once and for all,” he said.
ASUU warned that if the government fails to meet its commitments, members may be forced to reconvene and consider further industrial action.
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