The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced the suspension of its ongoing two-week warning strike.

The National President of ASUU, Prof. Chris Piwuna, made this known during a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja.

Piwuna explained that the decision followed the outcome of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which held overnight and concluded around 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

According to him, the strike was initially declared in response to the Federal Government’s delay in addressing the union’s long-standing demands.

“We’ve had useful engagements with representatives of the government to consider their response to the draft renegotiation of the 2009 agreement. However, we are not yet where we should be,” Piwuna said.

“The union acknowledged that the government has returned to the negotiation table. While noting that a lot more work still needs to be done, NEC resolved that the ongoing strike should be reviewed. This decision was influenced by the intervention of our students, parents, and the Nigeria Labour Congress.

“Consequently, NEC resolved to suspend the warning strike to reciprocate the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians.”

ASUU had on Monday, October 13, declared a two-week total and comprehensive warning strike to press home its demands.

The union’s key demands include the conclusion of the renegotiated 2009 FGN–ASUU Agreement, payment of withheld three and a half months’ salaries, sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities, and an end to the victimisation of lecturers at the Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

Other issues raised include the payment of outstanding 25–35% salary arrears, promotion arrears spanning over four years, and the release of withheld third-party deductions, such as cooperative contributions and union check-off dues.