…says we’re doing this as law abiding Nigerians
President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke has directed all lecturers to commence work today after the highest body of the Union resolved to lift suspension on the eight months old industrial action.
TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports this was contained in a statement issued and signed by Osodeke dated October 13, on Friday.
In the statement details of what led to the decision to ask their colleagues to resume duties are clearly stated.
See full statement below:
13 October, 2022
PRESS RELEASE
ASUU SUSPENDS ITS 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, 13 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) for the interpretation
of “the provision of sections 4, 5, 6, 7,8 & 18 (1) of the Trade Dispute Act, Cap T8
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, whether the on-going prolonged strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities which started since 14 February, 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 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.
4. 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.
5. NEC deliberated on the recommendations 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 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 for an elternative
payment platform in the university system.
* Renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement.
6. 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.
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 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 14’th February 2022. Consequently, all members of ASUU are hereby directed to resume all services hitherto withdrawn _ with effect from 12:01 on Friday, 14 October, 2022.
Thank you.
Emmanuel Osodeke
President
13 October, 2022
