ASUU to meet over end-strike court order, students, parents excited

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reacted to a Wednesday order of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria that asked the union to call off its protracted strike and return to work immediately.

National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said the leadership of the union would soon meet on the issue to take a decision.

“When we meet and deliberate on the ruling and other related issues, we will inform you,” he said in a telephone interview with Vanguard.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14 this year over demands from the government bordering on improved welfare package, mode of payment and better university infrastructure.

The National Association of Nigerian Students described the court ruling as a win-win situation for all the stakeholders in the matter.

The National President of NANS, Usman Barambu, said the Federal Government must, however, not see the ruling as a victory over ASUU.

He said, “It is a win-win situation for all, the government, the students, parents and ASUU. It is not that the court has given the government a kind of victory over ASUU or that the government has boxed ASUU to a corner. As students, we are happy about the development as it a sort of progress being made regarding how to resolve the face-off.

“We implore the government to meet the demands of ASUU, as the court said negotiation will continue while the matter is being heard before the court. Also, the government should not because of the fact that the matter is still before the court take the issue of negotiation with ASUU with levity. It is still a running matter.

“As students, we are happy that academic activities may soon resume in our university campuses.”

Parents under the aegis of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, have also reacted to the development.

Speaking through the National President, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, the body said the government and the union should obey the ruling of the court.

He said, “Since it is a court of competent jurisdiction that gave the ruling, there is no way it should not be binding on the parties involved. Already, everybody involved seems to be tired of the endless strike. The situation is heading to a dangerous dimension as students are beginning to protest and block roads all over the country.

“As parents, we are already becoming afraid that the protests could be hijacked by hoodlums and the unexpected happening. Now, there is hope that our children may go back to school soon. But our advice for the government is that they should do the needful regarding their obligations to the union members, the students, the university system and education sector as a whole.”