
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU,has finally suspended its 9-month old strike, ending the long protracted industrial action that has paralysed acedemkc activities since November, 2019.
The union announced the suspension of the industrial action at a press conference held Wednesday morning in Abuja, warning however that the union would return to strike without notice should government renege on her promises as agreed with ASUU.
ASUU President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, who led other National Executive Committee of the union to the event where he made the announcement, explained that the suspension takes effect from today, Wednesday 23, 2020.
The decision to suspend the action, according to Ogunyemi, followed the resolution to that effect by NEC at its meeting held earlier.
He also added that actual resumption of academic activities lie with the senate of Universities and federal government to work out the modalities.
Metrobusinessnews.com had on Monday, announced that Chris Ngige, Labour minister had expressed optimism that the strike may be called off and that outcome of the Tuesday’s meeting between ASUU and government would conclude the whole agreement for life to return to the nation’s towers again.
However, public opinion is divided due to the spike in Covid-19 pandemic cases and particularly with the emergence of its variant in some countries
But, stakeholders who spoke with the platform expressed happiness over the development and challenged government to ensure that the second wave of the pandemic is handled carefully and expeditiously too.
“While the strike has gone down in the history as the worst and longest one in the history of this country due to lack of priority and sincerity on the part of government, the onus lies on same government to prove that she is capable and willing to assist the youth of this country to achieve their heights,“ says Friday Ameh, Lagos based analyst.