The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its ongoing two-week warning strike following an overnight meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) held in Abuja.

National President of ASUU, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the suspension during a press briefing on Wednesday, noting that the NEC meeting concluded at about 4:00 a.m.

Piwuna explained that the decision came after what he described as “useful engagements” with representatives of the Federal Government, which signaled progress in addressing the union’s long-standing demands.

“We’ve had useful engagements with representatives of the government to consider the response to the draft renegotiation of the 2009 agreements. However, we are definitely not where we were prior to the commencement of the strike,” Piwuna said.

He added that the union recognised the government’s return to the negotiation table and the efforts of students, parents, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in facilitating dialogue.

“The union acknowledged that the government returned to the negotiation table. While noting that a lot more work is still required, NEC came to the conclusion that the ongoing strike should be reviewed. The decision to review the strike action was a result of efforts by our students, parents, and the Nigeria Labour Congress. Consequently, NEC resolved to suspend the warning strike to reciprocate the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians,” he said.

ASUU had commenced the two-week warning strike on Monday, October 13, over what it described as the government’s failure to fulfil key obligations.

The lecturers’ union is demanding the conclusion and implementation of the renegotiated 2009 FGN-ASUU agreement, release of withheld three and a half months’ salaries, improved and sustainable funding for public universities, revitalisation of tertiary institutions, and an end to the alleged victimisation of lecturers in Lagos State University (LASU), Prince Abubakar Audu University, and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

Other demands include the payment of outstanding 25–35 per cent salary arrears, settlement of over four years’ promotion arrears, and the release of withheld third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and union check-off dues.

While the strike has now been suspended, ASUU cautioned that its decision was a goodwill gesture, stressing that the union expects the government to demonstrate sincerity in addressing the pending issues to prevent a relapse into industrial action.