Many branches of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday, voted to suspend the ongoing eight-month strike to press home demands for improved working conditions for members and infrastructure in public universities.
The branches had summoned congresses based on the directive of the national body on yesterday following a ruling by the Court of Appeal which ordered that ASUU respects the judgment of Industrial Court of Nigeria and suspend its industrial action.
Africa Daily News, New York gathered that after yesterday’s meetings across the country, members resolved to ask the National Executive Council (NEC) to call for the suspension of the strike.
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‘The decisions of the various congresses of ASUU will be tabled and discussed at an emergency NEC meeting scheduled for today in Abuja,’ a source said.
He said most branch chairmen were on their way to Abuja for the crucial NEC meeting, but declined to speak on when the strike would be called off to allow the resumption of classes by students.
The union and the House of Representatives had on Monday met to iron out the lingering issues bordering on the industrial action which had been embarked on by the lecturers.
The lecturers who had also been led by ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke and the leadership of the House, who had been in turn led by Femi Gbajabiamila had met behind a closed-door meeting for about 30 minutes before having another one in front of the camera.
It would also be recalled that the House has also been hosting some of the meetings between the government and the strike lecturers in the past couple of weeks and on Friday, the Nigerian Court of Appeal had made an agreement with an early ruling by the National Industrial Court that had directed the Union to resume immediately.
Africa Daily News, New York also recalls that the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari had during his budget presentation made it known that up to N470 billion has been allocated for tertiary institutions in the 2023 budget.
Speaking on the outcome of the closed-door meeting, Gbajabiamila said President Muhammadu Buhari will make a major announcement regarding the strike and also speaking, the Osodeke, had revealed that the Union will sign some documents in the next couple of days which they will take to their members for ratification.
