The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended the five weeks old strike.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended the five weeks old strike.
It directed members to return to their classrooms with immediate effect.
ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, told reporters last night after a long meeting with the federal government delegation, led by Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige, that they decided to conditionally suspend the strike in view of the timeline of October for the implementation of the signed agreement with the government.
He said the union would not hesitate to resume the suspended action should the government renege on the newly signed agreement, which he called Memorandum of Action.
He said the agreement is backed by a definite timeline for implementation.
He warned that the government must not deliberately dishonor the agreement, adding that the continuous breach of the signed agreement had been responsible for the constant strike in the universities.
Mr. Ogunyemi said the new agreement with the government is based on mutual trust between the union and the government, adding that the trust of the union must be respected by the government.
Dr. Ngige said all the gray areas had been sorted out and an agreement reached.
He said both the government and the union agreed on several issues, assuring that the agreement reached would be implemented by the government in line with available resources.
Areas of agreement include funding for revitalization of public universities and the issue of Earned Academic Allowances, the issue of University Staff Schools and the implementation of the judgment of the National Industrial Court and National Universities Pension Management Company, and guidelines for pension matters for professors.
He also said the union agreed to the exemption offered by the government regarding the issue of TSA, which include the issue of grants, endowment fund as well as salary shortfall, which he said is already being implemented by the government.
On the state universities, he said they agreed that the union would submit a position paper to the federal government on their observation with a view for government to advise state governments.
