ASUU Hails Gbajabiamila, Ends 8 Months Strike

The Academic Staff Union of University, ASUU has hailed the role played by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila in bringing the strike to an end.

ASUU ended the eight-month strike on Friday following various interventions by some well-meaning Nigerians, particularly the leadership of the House of Reps.

Recall that the Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke-led union had last week promised to end the strike after a ‘fruitful’ deliberation with the leadership of the house.

The union and the federal government had hit a deadlock in their negotiations to end the strike, to the point that the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige was forced to drag the union of the National Industrial Court, NIC. The matter is still in court.

The intervention of the Speaker, who broker a deal with the striking university teachers, many insist, served as the last-ditch effort to bringing the strike to an end.

In a statement released on Friday by Prof. Osodeke, the union said the intervention of Gbajabiamila was key to ending the months-long labour dispute.

The union however said all their demands have not been fully addressed.

The statement said: “ The National Executive Council of ASUU held an emergency meeting at the Comrade Festus Iyayi National Secretariat, University of Abuja, Abuja, on Thursday, October 13, 2022”.

“The National Industrial Court in its wisdom gave an order compelling ASUU to resume work pending the determination of the substantive suit. Given the nature of the order, and in the opinion of our counsel, there was the need to appeal the interlocutory injunction granted against our union at the Court of Appeal.

“The Court of Appeal acknowledged the validity of the grounds of the union’s appeal but still upheld the order of the lower court and ordered our union to comply with the ruling of the lower court as condition precedent for the appeal to be heard.

“NEC noted the series of meetings with the leadership of the House of Representatives led by the Hon. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as intervention efforts of other well-meaning Nigerians both within and outside the government and the progress made so far. “While appreciating the commendable efforts of the leadership of the House of Representatives and other patriotic Nigerians who waded into the matter, NEC noted with regrets that the issues in dispute were yet to be satisfactorily addressed.

“However, as a law-abiding union and in deference to appeals by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and in recognition of the efforts Hon. Gbajabiamila, and other well-meaning Nigerians, ASUU NEC resolved to suspend the strike action embarked upon on February 14, 2022. Consequently, all members of ASUU are hereby directed to resume all services hitherto withdrawn with effect from 12:01 on Friday, October 14, 2022,” ASUU said.

Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that part of the deal reached with the federal government is the payment of the eight months salary owed the striking teachers.

President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier said the salary of the lecturers will not be paid for the period they were on strike in line with the federal government’s ‘no work, no pay’ policy.