By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has officially suspended its ongoing two-week warning strike.
This was disclosed by the National President of the union, Prof. Chris Piwuna, during a press conference currently taking place in Abuja on Wednesday.
Piwuna explained that the decision followed a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC), which was held overnight and concluded around 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
He stated that the strike became necessary after the government failed to meet ASUU’s long-standing demands within the agreed timeframe.
According to him, “We’ve had useful engagements with representatives of the government to consider the response to the draft renegotiation of the 2009 agreements. However, we are definitely not where we were prior to the commencement of the strike.
“The union acknowledged that the government returned to the negotiation table. While noting that a lot more work is still required, NEC came to the conclusion that the ongoing strike should be reviewed. The decision to review the strike action was a result of efforts by our students, parents, and the Nigeria Labour Congress.
“Consequently, NEC resolved to suspend the warning strike to reciprocate the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians.”
It will be recalled that ASUU had earlier declared a total and comprehensive warning strike beginning on Monday, October 13.
The union’s demands include the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, payment of withheld three and a half months’ salaries, sustainable and improved funding for public universities, revitalisation of tertiary institutions, and an end to the alleged victimisation of lecturers in LASU, Prince Abubakar Audu University, and FUTO.
ASUU is also demanding the payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears, settlement of over four years of promotion arrears, and the release of withheld third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and union check-off dues.