ASUU Suspends Strike After Eight Months

The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) has finally suspended its eight-month strike.

ASUU ended the strike following intense negotiations with the government and the House of Representatives.

It was gathered that the decision to suspend the strike was taken at the end of the ASUU National Executive Council, NEC, meeting which was held at the ASUU secretariat in Abuja on Thursday night and lasted into the early hours of Friday.

ASUU president, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, is expected to release an official circular to its member institutions for the resumption of academic activities in the universities later on Friday.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14 over issues revolving around revitalizing 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.