ASUU SUSPENDS IT'S STRIKE ACTION

ASUU SUSPENDS IT'S STRIKE ACTION

1. The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of

Universities (ASUU) held an emergency meeting at the Comrade Festus lyayi

National Secretariat, University of Abuja, Abuja, on Thursday, 13h October, 2022.

The meeting reviewed developments since the Union declared an indefinite

strike action on 29th August, 2022.

2. During the intervening period, the Minister of Labour and Employment, through

a referral, approached the National Industrial Court (NIC) tor the interpretation

of "the provision of sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 18 (1) of the Trade Dispute Act, Cap 18

Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, whether the on-going prolonged strike by the

Academic Staff Union of Universities which started since 14th Februay, 2022 is

legal even after statutory aPprehension by the Minister of Labour and

Employment? In addition, he asked for an interlocutory order against the

continuation of the strike.

3. 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 n 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 ackrnowledged 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.

4,NEC noted the series of meetings with the leadership of the House of

Kepresentatives led by the Hon. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as

ntervention ettorts of other well-meaning Nigerians both within and outside

governiment and the progress made so far.

5. NEC deliberated on the recommendations of the Rt. Hon. Fenmi Gbajabiamila-led

Committee within the framework of the FGN/ ASUU's Memorandum of

Action(MoA) of 2020 on the contending issues that led to the strike action. For

the avoidance of doubt, the issues include:

Funding for Revitalisation of public universities

Earned Academic Allowances

Proliferation of public Universities

Visitation Panels/ Release of White Papers

University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a broad

Spectrum software to stop illegality and provide tor an alternative

payment plattorm in the university system.

Renegotiation ot the 2009 Agreement

6. While appreciating the commendable efforts of the leadership of the House of

Kepresentatives and other patriotic Nigerians who waded into the matter, NEC

noted with regrets that the issues in dispute are yet to be satisfactorily addressed.

7. However, as a laW-abiding Union and in deference to appeals by the President

and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency,

President Muhammadu Buhari, and in recognition of the ettorts of the Speaker of

the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and ofher well-

meaning Nigerians, ASUU NEC resolved to suspend the strike action embarked

upon on 14th February 2022. Consequently, all members of ASUU are hereby

directed to resume all services hitherto withdrawn with effect from 12:01 on

Friday, 14th October, 2022.

Thank yo

Emmanuel Osodeke

President

13th October, 2022

PRESS RELEASE