Real reason we called off eight months strike – ASUU

The eight-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, or ASUU, was called off for a reason that has been given.

According to Emmanuel Osodeke, the national president of ASUU, the eight-month strike was ended as a result of a court decision and public outcry in Nigeria.

On Sunday Politics on Channels Television, Osodeke revealed this.

“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.”

After the National Industrial Court ruled against the union, an appeals court had instructed ASUU to resume classes.

The Minister of Labor and Employment, Chris Ngige, was also held responsible by the ASUU National President for the protracted strike.

Negotiation, according to Osodeke, is the best strategy to settle trade conflicts 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.