The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) might call off the ongoing industrial strike before Monday.
According to TheCable, an insider who disclosed this said ASUU is set to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday, and the meeting outcome would then be sent to the union’s national body.
The union will hold another meeting on Thursday, during which ASUU will make a decision concerning the lingering strike.
The source said, “They are planning to call it off very soon. All schools are planning to hold an emergency meeting tomorrow. They have called for it.”
“When they vote, they will send their decision to the national body. And by Thursday, the national body will meet, take a decision, and announce it.”
According to the source, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, played a vital role in the union’s progress with the federal government.
The source further disclosed that the federal government had also agreed to pay the backlog of the union’s salary arrears.
“The house of representatives Speaker played a pivotal role in every progress made recently. IPPIS will still be used for now, but ASUU will meet with the accountant-general to discuss how they can factor their allowances into the salary,” the source said.
“The accumulated and unpaid allowances are part of the issue. The federal government has also agreed to pay the backlog of their salaries.”
Another source also confirmed the development to TheCable, stating that the appeal court ruling that ordered the union to resume work immediately is part of why ASUU plans to end the strike.
Recall that the appeal court on October 7 asked ASUU to obey the order of an industrial court, which directed the suspension of the strike before seeking to appeal.
“There’s an emergency meeting of ASUU FUNAAB tomorrow for updates and then referendum,” the source said.
“Remember the appeal court ruling that we must call off the strike before our appeal can be heard? That’s why the union must call off the strike on or before October 17.
“As part of the efforts to make ASUU call off the strike, the union continued their meeting with the speaker of the house of representatives yesterday.”
