ASUU to meet Thursday, may suspend strike after meeting

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, will hold an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Thursday, to decide when to call of its almost eight-month strike, in review of recent developments, especially the positive response from the Federal Government to its demands and the latest court order.

Already, the union has reportedly directed its zonal branches to get the views of members through vote during their respective meetings expected to hold on Wednesday in its various zones across the country.

Sources within the union said the strike could be called off after Thursday’s meeting or early Friday.

There were reports on Tuesday on the social media claiming that the union had called off the strike and directed members to resume academic activities on October 17.

But ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, dismissed the reports, saying the strike had not been suspended.

He, however, said the union was working towards the suspension of the action, saying the action would be dependent on the views of members from the zonal meetings.

The latest action of the lecturers’ union came following the intervention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

The Speaker on Monday after a meeting with ASUU president and other members, assured that the strike would be suspended very soon, saying his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari over the union’s action was fruitful.

Human rights lawyer and counsel to ASUU, Femi Falana, SAN, had also said the union would soon call off its nearly eight-month old strike.