Kehinde Fajobi
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has called off its two-week strike after reaching a new agreement with the federal government.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, ASUP President Shammah Kpanja announced that members are directed to resume work on Monday, December 16, 2024.
The decision followed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during a conciliation meeting with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on December 9.
“Members of the Union and indeed the general public may recall that our Union declared a two-week definite strike effective 2nd December, 2024, over the inability of the government through its agencies to execute nine items in the work plan jointly developed with our Union to resolve some pending issues of trade dispute,” the statement read.
Kpanja explained that the strike was initially declared as a warning and precursor to an indefinite strike.
However, the meeting with the government resulted in the signing of a new MoU.
“At the meeting, a new memorandum of understanding was signed with a caveat that another meeting will be held on 23rd January, 2025, to assess compliance by parties as well as to address other issues.
“After this meeting, the Union’s National Executive Council will meet to review the situation,” he said.
The union expressed optimism that the government would work diligently to resolve the lingering issues.
“In view of this development, all members of the Union are directed to resume duties from Monday, 16th December, 2024.
“While we thank and commend our members for their commitment and resilience, it is our Union’s expected hope that the government will diligently work to ensure a fruitful resolution of the issues in dispute,” Kpanja added.