ASUP suspends Nationwide strike, directs members to return to work

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has directed its members nationwide to resume work following the end of their two-week strike.

The union had embarked on the strike as a warning and a prelude to a possible indefinite industrial action. However, in a statement signed by its President, Kpanja Shamnah, ASUP announced that members are to return to their duties on Monday, December 16.

According to reports, the decision to call off the strike came after the union reached a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment during a conciliation meeting held on December 9.

The statement read: “Members of the Union and indeed the general public may recall that our Union declared a 2-week definite strike effective 2nd December 2024 over the inability of 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.

“You will also recall that a strike was declared to serve as a warning and precursor to an indefinite strike.

“Within the period of the strike, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment convened a conciliation meeting between our Union and the government on the 9th of December 2024, to resolve the dispute and save the sector from the impending indefinite strike.

“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.

“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.”