The Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government have ended their six-month dispute, with the Supervisory Minister of education, Nyesom Wike stating that there was ‘No Victor, No vanquished’.
He thanked parents, students, labour unions, the National Assembly and Nigerians for their understanding during the period the strike lasted.
Wike said, “Today, I am very pleased to announce that all contending issues between ASUU and the Federal Government have been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties.
“Let me emphasise that we recognise and appreciate ASUU’s patriotic role and commitment towards ensuring that our universities are well-funded, resourced and run like their counterparts in other parts of the world.
“Thus, we are all partners in progress and there is no victor; no vanquished in the struggle of this nature for as long as our goals remain noble, not actuated by parochial interests, but targeted at moving our nation forward.”
The President of ASUU, Nasir Fagge said the strike would have been called off sooner if government had seen the wisdom in documenting their resolutions earlier.
“If what we have agreed with Mr. President at that 13-hour meeting had been judiciously documented and our members were convinced that it was going to be implemented, we wouldn’t have waited this while because we also have a lot of respect for the office of Mr. President and that of the Vice-President.
“But you see our members are intellectuals, I keep saying this. It is simply because over the years particularly since the signing of the 2009 agreement we have been pursuing government to get that agreement implemented.
“We rarely succeeded in getting a portion of that agreement implemented by the government. Here we are, we have gone for about four years but it is never too late to turn a new page and make sure we do what is right with our universities.”
He said the decisions would be delivered to the National Executive Council of the union and a decision on the strike would e made within one week.
“We would now take this document to our members and we are confident that our members will do the appropriate thing.
“It was a sacrifice that was worth taking to ensure that we do what is right for our country,” he added.