ASUU Reveals Major Reason Strike Was Suspended

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Osodeke, has revealed that the union decided to call off its industrial action because of a court order asking them to do so.

Recall that ASUU had been on strike since February 14 over its demand for improved funding for universities, and a review of salaries for lecturers, among other issues.

But the Court of Appeal had on October 7th, ordered the union to call off its strike before an appeal filed by the union could be heard.

Obeying the court ruling, ASUU had last Friday directed its members to resume work despite the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration not yet resolving its issues.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on Sunday, Osodeke said the union hopes that the federal government will do the needful now the strike has been suspended.

He said: “The major reason we are resuming is that we are obeying the court order.

“The issues have not been fully resolved and no agreement has been signed. So, we are resuming because we are a law-abiding body and we don’t want to break the law.

“We are also hoping that the intervention of the speaker, as promised by him, will resolve these problems in a very short time.”

When asked if this means the lecturers are not happy to be resuming, Osodeke said: “Definitely”.

The ASUU president added, “in trade dispute, especially one involving university academics, the best option is negotiation and then you end it within a very short time.

“But the minister of labour believes that the best way is to force them to class. It’s so sad, but because of the interest of the Nigerian students, their parents, and the speaker, our members will teach.

“Any country that plays with education creates room for insecurity.

“We want the next administration to follow the trend of neighbouring countries and allocate not less than 16 percent of the budget to education. When this is done, these problems will be sorted out. Our children will go to school effortlessly.”