The Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), has suspended its strike on Wednesday, ending the industrial action it started in March 2020.
This was disclosed by the ASUU National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, during a media briefing of the union in Abuja.
He added that the suspension of the strike will take place from Thursday, December 24th, 2020.
On Tuesday, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had assured Nigerians that the prolonged strike by the university lecturers would be called off before January 15.
Ogunyemi added that the lecturers sympathized with the students who were also their children, saying that, “no amount of sacrifice would be too much to get the matter resolved as long as the government is consistent with its commitments.”
However, he warned that the union would return to strike without notice if the government fails in meeting its part of the agreement reached with the university lecturers. He added that the reopening of the schools lies with the Federal Government and Senate, considering the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Federal Government had in its November 27 meeting with the union pledged the sum of N40bn as the Earned Allowance and N30bn for the revitalization of the university system, making the total payment to N70bn.
The government also promised to pay the arrears of the lecturers’ salaries.
The union, in turn, pledged to present the offer to its organs and get back to the government on their decision.
