There are strong indications that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU will end its eight-month strike today.
The magazine learned from competent sources in the Union that the university teachers took the decision to end the prolonged strike during the meetings held by all the state chapters of ASUU on Thursday.
Recall that ASUU President Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke said last week after a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila that the strike action will soon be called off.
It was also learned on Wednesday that the federal government has agreed to release N50 billion to the Union as part of the efforts to build trust with the lecturers in the nation’s ivory towers.
The fund, sources in the government said will be used to take care of outstanding earned allowances and will be handed over to the governing Council of Federal Universities.
Top sources in ASUU told the magazine on Friday that the strike will be ‘officially’ called off today, adding that the president of the union will soon issue a statement to that effect.
The union embarked on strike on February 14 this year over a disagreement with the federal government on issues relating to salary, allowances, and funding for the nation’s universities.
Last week, the federal government formally registered two new university unions, the Congress of Nigerian University Academics, CONUA and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics, NAMDA, citing the need to promote “harmonious industrial relations” in the university system.
Government said that with the registration granted the two unions, they are now entitled to all rights and privileges ascribed to unions and will be given access to those rights by the government and university authorities.
Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Employment speaking after the registration said the move will help liberalize the academic sub-sector and allow for freedom for university workers.
“The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in the discharge of her mandate in the management of employment relationships and the administration of Trade Unions to ensure harmonious industrial relations system in the nation has decided to approve the registration of two (2) more Trade unions in the Nigerian University academic sub sector. The University sub-sector is a major development plank of any nation’s Socio economic growth.
“In view of this registration, you are entitled to all rights and privileges acruable to union of similar status which include right to receive check off dues of members. You can now go back to your institutions and open the doors of your classrooms to teach the students,” the minister said in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
