The Academic Staff Union of Universities has decided not to go on strike again over its salary cut, but rather to engage in peaceful consultation.
ASUU's President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, said in a statement made available to PRIME9JAONLINE on Tuesday after the National Executive Council meeting that the union would continue to pursue a positive resolution of the avoidable crisis within the confines of the law without jeopardizing the interests and welfare of Nigerian intellectuals.
Some union members also confirmed to our correspondent that the union would not go on strike for the time being.
Osodeke also appealed for the understanding of Nigerian students, parents, and other genuinely concerned individuals and groups in the statement.
"At an emergency meeting of the ASUU's National Executive Committee held on Monday, November 7, 2022, the union deliberated on developments since the strike's suspension," the statement said in part.
The NEC noted with dismay that paying academics on a "pro-rata" basis, similar to casual workers, is unprecedented in the history of university-oriented labor relations, and thus condemned the entire attempt to reduce Nigerian scholars to casual workers."
He went on to say that the NEC commended ASUU members for their perseverance in the face of untold hardship and unwarranted provocation by some notorious ruling-class agents.
However, our correspondents discovered that ASUU chose to remain silent on the possibility of another strike because the case was still in court.
According to a source within ASUU's NEC, the union consulted with its legal counsel, who advised the body to wait for the court's decision.
"You are aware that the case is still pending in court; we have not yet been summoned." The previous strike was suspended due to a court order; if we decide to go on strike, the minister may take advantage of the opportunity to declare ASUU illegal. There are already numerous court cases pending. The court must resolve this once and for all. Our options are limited. Only the court has the authority to make a decision. The minister is aware of this, which is why he is acting in this manner."
THIS WEEK, ALL BRANCHES WILL MEET.
Due to the half-salary crisis that prompted the ASUU-NEC emergency meeting, all union branches will meet on different days this week to brief their members.
Dr. Adeola Egbedokun, Chairman of ASUU at Obafemi Awolowo University, stated that the ASUU OAU branch would meet on Wednesday for its branch congress to analyze and discuss the NEC meeting resolutions.
Similarly, Prof. Poju Tejumaiye of ASUU University of Lagos told our correspondent that the UNILAG branch would meet on Thursday.
"There will be no strike action." Everyone is attempting to avoid Ngige's folly. We don't want to put ourselves in his shoes. We will continue with our lectures while also consulting.
We will wait for the father of the nation to respond because of Gbajabiamila, but I know my people will not wait indefinitely," he said.