Academic Staff Union of Universities call off nine month strike as an act of good faith

MEMBERS of Nigeria’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) have called off their nine-month strike after federal government ministers and its officials reached an agreement on how to address the plethora of outstanding issues.

Since March this year, ASUU has been out on strike, protesting the failure of the government to honour agreements both parties have entered into. Over the last week, however, there have been intensified efforts to resolve the impasse, leading the union to announce that it has suspended the strike while it monitors the compliance level of the federal government on the concessions made.

ASUU president, Biodun Ogunyemi, said this decision was reached after its national executive council met yesterday. On when studies would resume fully in the nation’s public universities in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic sweeping across the country, Mr Ogunyemi said the teachers were ready to resume as long full health measures are put in place.

He added: “As far as we are concerned, we are ready to resume work. Let the government do what is needed to ensure safety. We insist that the Covid-19 protocol should be observed.”