The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has explained why it called off its eight months industrial action.
ASUU National President, Emmanuel Osodeke, said the association reached a decision to end the strike following a court order and appeals from Nigerians.
The academic body had called off the strike on Friday last week following the directive of the court of appeal urging ASUU to return to class after the National Industrial Court ruled against the union.
Osodeke who appeared on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics said agreements were yet to be signed, as the issues were not fully settled.
According to him, “As you have seen from our press release – although there were interventions by the Speaker (Gbajabiamila) and others – the major reason we are resuming is because we are obeying the industrial court’s judgement. The issues have not been fully resolved and no agreements signed.
“We are resuming because we are a law-abiding organisation and we don’t want to break the law.
“We are also hoping that the intervention of the Speaker as promised by him will resolve this problem within a very short time. So, the issues have not been resolved but we would resume because of that court injunction.”
The ASUU National President also blamed the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, for the prolonged strike, noting that negotiation was the best way to resolve trade disputes involving academics.
“But one of the ministers, the Minister of Labour, believes that the best way is to force them to class. But because of the interest of the Nigerian people – the students, their parents, and the Speaker who is intervening – our members will teach,” he added.
