By Seyi Odewale
There were strong indications that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will tomorrow decide to end its eight-month strike when it holds an emergency meeting.
The meeting, which may likely extend to Friday morning, will, among other issues, assess the eight-month strike and discuss the progress made so far.
The union’s branches across the country, it was learnt, will today begin meetings on the possibility of ending the seemingly intractable strike.
This, it was learnt, may have come as a result of the union’s Monday meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who mediated between the union and the Federal Government.
Also, at a book launch in Lagos to mark the 60th birthday anniversary of the Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Lanre Arogundade, ASUU lead counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, said the strike would be over in a few days.
Falana’s assurance was sequel to a statement credited to him on Monday that the union would soon call off the strike.
“Our clients are ready to call off the strike. The Federal Government should fast-track and finalise the negotiations.
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“Hon Gbajabiamila and his colleagues in the House of Representatives have been in touch with the Presidency over the matter. I am reasonably confident that the consultations between the House and the Presidency will yield positive results in the interest of the striking lecturers and the students,” he said.
The union on February 14, 2022, began an industrial action by embarking on a strike over what it described as the failure of the government to meet its lingering demands.
Labour and Employment Minister, Dr Chris Ngige, after what appeared as “failed negotiations”, took the striking lecturers to the National Industrial Court on behalf of the government.
The court had on September 21 ordered that ASUU should call off the strike. It also granted the motion on notice filed by the Federal Government, directing the lecturers to return to classrooms.
The trial judge, Polycarp Hamman, ordered ASUU to discontinue the industrial action, pending the determination of the suit filed against it by the Federal Government.
However, the union proceeded to the Appellate Court to appeal the ruling and filed a stay of execution of the Industrial Court’s order.
But the Appeal Court ordered the union to “immediately” call off the eight months strike and struck out its application for a stay of execution.
The cases, however, did not stop the Speaker’s mediation, which has been embraced by both the union and the Federal Government.
Feelers from the state branches of the union, yesterday showed that some of them may be meeting today as messages have been sent to members, who will vote on the decision to call off the strike.
A branch chairman from the southeast region of the country was quoted to have said, “Our branch will hold a meeting tomorrow (today). We have sent messages to our members, and we will be voting tomorrow (today). We will communicate our decision to the national body on Thursday (tomorrow).”
Another member, said, “I will be flying to Abuja on Thursday (tomorrow) morning for the NEC meeting.”
