UNIABUJA ASUU Suspends 82-Day Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Abuja has ended its 82-day strike following successful negotiations with the new Governing Council.

Jul 23, 2024 - 14:14

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has announced the suspension of its 82-day strike effective immediately. The decision follows recent engagements with the institution’s newly appointed Governing Council.

At a press briefing held on Monday, July 22, 2024, Dr. Sylvanus Ugoh, the Chairperson of ASUU UniAbuja, revealed that the strike was halted after the union's demands were addressed by the new council. The council committed to reviewing key issues, including the controversial appointment and promotion processes that led to the strike.

ASUU initially went on strike on May 2, 2024, protesting violations of established university procedures. The union raised concerns over illegal advertisements for the vice-chancellor position under the previous administration led by Prof. Abdulrasheed Na’Alla, and issues with recruitments and promotions.

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Dr. Ugoh highlighted that the new Governing Council, which was inaugurated recently, had engaged with the union and agreed to several key resolutions:

- Cancellation and Re-advertisement: The council has agreed to cancel the previous advert for the vice-chancellor position and issue a new one, adhering to due process.

- Review of Recruitment and Promotions: There will be a review of recruitment processes and the 2022/2023 promotion exercise.

- Election Procedures: The council has directed the conduct of elections for deans of faculties and the provost of the College of Health Sciences.

The union leader also noted that the acting vice-chancellor has communicated with the union regarding the position on the board of the micro-finance bank, ensuring that the union's representation is upheld.

Following a thorough review of the council's submissions, ASUU’s congress resolved to suspend the strike, allowing the university administration to address the issues raised.

The suspension of the strike is expected to restore normal academic activities at UniAbuja and provide a platform for continued dialogue between the union and university management.