ASUU suspends strike, gives reasons

The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) has suspended its eight-month-old industrial action conditionally, a member of the union’s National Executive Committee revealed this in the early hours of Friday.

The union decided to suspend the strike during a meeting of its leadership that started on Thursday night and lasted into the early hours of Friday.

The meeting was called by the union to determine its next line of action after its state branches met over the Court of Appeal ruling last week.

Members of the union’s National Executive Committee, which comprises the chairmen of the state chapters and members of the national executive, attended the meeting at the ASUU National Secretariat in Abuja.

A memo formally announcing the decision of the NEC is expected to be released later on Friday.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14 over issues revolving around revitalising public universities, and a review of lecturers’ salaries and allowances, among other matters.

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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.