The Academic staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has regretted that all issues that led to the withdrawal of its services for a complete eight month from Nigerians universities are yet to be satisfactorily addressed despite suspending the strike.

The Union, after a National Executive Council meeting, held at the University of Abuja, Thursday, said it only suspended the eight months action following the intervention of the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

ASUU, in a release, signed, Friday, by its President, Emmanuel Osodake, also hinged the suspension on respect for the appeal by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Court of Appeal Order directing the Union to resume classes with immediate effect.

HorizonTimes reports that the immediate order was given eight days before ASUU said it was complying with same.

The Union has however directed all its members to resume work Friday.

“Consequently, all members of ASUU are hereby directed to resume all services hitherto withdrawn with effect from 12:01 on Friday, 14th October, 2022.”

The Union noted the contending issues to include, Funding for Revitalization of public universities, Earned Academic Allowance, Proliferation of Public Universities, Visitation Panel/Release of White Papers, University Transparency and Accountability Solution as a broad spectrum software to stop illegality and provide for an alternative payment platform in the university system, and Renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement.

“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 are yet to be satisfactorily addressed.

“However, as a law-abiding Union and in deference to the appeal by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, and in recognition of the efforts of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and other 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“Consequently, all members of ASUU are hereby directed to resume all services hitherto withdrawn with effect from 12:01 on Friday, 14th October, 2022.”

The Union said its decision to appeal an earlier Interlocutory Injunction granted by the National Industrial Curt was based on the nature of the order and the opinion of its Counsel, Human Right lawyer, Femi Falana.

“During the intervention period, the Minister of Labour and Employment, through a referral, approached the National Industrial Court, NIC, for the interpretation of ‘the provision of sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 18(1) of the Trade Dispute Act, Cap T8Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, whether the on-going prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities which started since 14th February, 2022 is legal even after statutory apprehension by the Minister Labour and Employment?” In addition, he asked for an interlocutory order against the continuation of the Strike.

“The National Industrial Curt 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.”

 

Read the full statement below:

The National Executive Council, NEC, of the Academic staff Union of Universities, ASUU, held an emergency meeting at the Comrade Festus Iyayi National Secretariat, University of Abuja, Abuja, on Thursday, 13th October, 2022. The meeting reviewed developments since the Union declared an indefinite strike action on 29th August, 2022.

During the intervention period, the Minister of Labour and Employment, through a referral, approached the National Industrial Court, NIC, for the interpretation of ‘the provision of sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 18(1) of the Trade Dispute Act, Cap T8Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, whether the on-going prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities which started since 14th February, 2022 is legal even after statutory apprehension by the Minister Labour and Employment?” In addition, he asked for an interlocutory order against the continuation of the Strike.

The National Industrial Curt 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 government and the progress made so far.

NEC deliberated on the recommendation of the Rt. Hon. Femi 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 Revitalization of public universities.
• Earned Academic Allowance.
• Proliferation of Public Universities.
• Visitation Panel/Release of White Papers
• University Transparency and Accountability Solution as a broad spectrum software to stop illegality and provide for an alternative payment platform in the university system.
• Renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement

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 are yet to be satisfactorily addressed.

However, as a law-abiding Union and in deference to the appeal by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, and in recognition of the efforts of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and other 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.