ASUU ends strike, which had been ongoing for the past eight months

It’s been approximately eight months since the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began a statewide strike, but finally, they’ve called it off.

This was stated at a press conference held by ASUU president Professor Biodun Ogunyemi on Wednesday at the University of Abuja.

According to THISDAY’s sources, the Union’s NEC agreed to temporarily cease the strike after the federal government promised to pay off its payment arrears and meet the union’s requests by a certain date.

While specifics on the requests and deadlines were not immediately shared, the source did say that they would be discussed at a press conference addressed by the ASUU president later today. After negotiations broke down, the federal government took ASUU to the National Industrial Court. The deadline for ASUU to comply with the court’s order or face contempt charges was today.

However, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila intervened and negotiated compromises, which were then presented to and approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU met to discuss how to respond to the situation and whether or not to call off the strike.

As a result, the court approved the government’s request for an injunction, allowing ASUU members to return to work awaiting the outcome of the case. An appeals court affirmed the lower court’s ruling that ASUU continues operations, which the union had initially challenged.