ASUU calls off strike next week

Following a resolution signed by both the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, yesterday, indications have emerged that the five-month-old strike is likely to be called off by Monday.

Briefing newsmen, the Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, said the meeting was called to sign the resolution on the agreements reached at the final negotiation between the federal government and ASUU.

ASUU had embarked on a nation-wide strike in July over what it described as the non- implementation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement.

"Today, I am very pleased to announce that all contending issues between ASUU and the federal government have been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties," the minister said.

"Let me emphasise that we recognise and appreciate ASUU's patriotic role and determination to ensure that our universities are well funded, have resources and are run like their counterparts in other parts of the world.

"We are all partners in progress and there is no victor, no vanquish in a struggle of this nature and our goal remains noble and targeted at moving our nation forward.

"As a responsible and responsive government, we have a duty to restore normalcy to the education sector so that our children can resume classes and purse their chosen careers.

"On behalf of the president, I wish to thank all well-meaning Nigerians, the National Assembly, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), traditional rulers, students and parents, among others, for demonstrating sufficient understanding."

ASUU president Nasir Fagge said the resolution was a response to a letter the union wrote to the president through the supervising minister of education.

"This document contains everything we listed in a letter to Mr President; we will now forward the document to our members for further directives," he said.

Fagge, who said that a National Executive Council meeting would be called within a week, noted that the signing of the resolution showed that government was committed.

He commended parents, students and Nigerians for their understanding and patience, stressing that the struggle was to ensure that government puts the university system in order.

The NLC president Mr Abdulwaheed Omar, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Julius Okojie and the vice chancellors of some public universities were present at the meeting.