#AsuuStrikeUpdate; ASUU Set to Call off Strike

There appears to be hope for Nigerian students to finally return to school as indications show that ASUU may be calling off its (over 7months old) industrial action.

Femi Falana, counsel for the Academic Staff Union of Universities, stated on Monday that his clients were ready to call off the strike.

In a brief message to the Punch the Senior Advocate of Nigeria also urged the Federal Government to expedite and complete its talks with ASUU.

See Also “ASUU Strike is more complicated than it Appears”-Lai Mohamed

He expressed confidence that the meeting between the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the presidency on the issue would be fruitful.

According to the Punch, Falana said, “Our clients are ready to call off the strike. The Federal Government should fast track the and finalise the negotiations.

“Hon Gbajabiamila and his colleagues in the House of Representatives have been in touch with the Presidency over the matter.

“I am reasonably confident that the consultations between the House and the Presidency will yield positive results in the interest of the striking lecturers and the students.”

Following a meeting with the presidency, Gbajabiamila stated on Friday that the house had done its part to end the months-long ASUU strike and that Nigerians would hear the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, announce the outcome of the deliberations (retd.).

On Friday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities to end its seven-month strike.

The order came after the court denied the union’s request for a stay of execution on an earlier National Industrial Court ruling ordering university lecturers to resume work.

Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, National President of ASUU, stated that the union will study the appeal court’s decision ordering its members to return to work.

Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities applauded the House of Representatives’ intervention in the long-running dispute between university lecturers and the Federal Government.

The President of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, said, “For the first time, we have seen light at the end of the tunnel.”

This comes as the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, who briefs ASUU leadership on his meetings with President Buhari about the crisis, said the strike would be called off “in a matter of days.”