By LAWANI MIKAIRU

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has announced the suspension of its one-week warning strike with effect from Sunday to enable the Federal Government implement the agreement reached with it in 2009 on four-point issues.

The warning strike is in protest against the federal government’s alleged refusal to implement a 2009 agreement that will be due for re-negotiation in six months. The agreement, which includes a 26% funding of education, wage improvements and the upward review of the retirement age of professors from 65 to 70 years, was signed by the late President Umaru Yar’ Adua’s administration after four months of strike action that grounded all federal and state universities.

There was total compliance last week with the one-week nationwide warning strike . ASUU president, Professor Ukachukwu Awazie, was quoted as telling all academic staff of Nigerian universities to resume their full academic activities from 3 October.

He added that the directive to members to commence work should not be seen as an excuse for lethargy and foot-dragging on the part of government in complying with the issues already agreed on in 2009.

He expressed ASUU’s appreciation to students, parents, the Nigerian press and all patriots for their understanding with ASUU over their action in ensuring that Nigerian universities were given proper and due attention by government.

He urged all Nigerians to prevail on the federal government to treat the implementation of the agreement with the urgency it deserved.

The strike, which commenced on 26 September after an extensive deliberation at the University of Ibadan on the government’s refusal to implement the agreement it reached with the ASUU in 2009, is likely to go full scale if government reneges on its promise to implement the agreement.

The general consensus among respondents to last week’s strike is that since the government do not accord education priority, the country will continue to experience strike.

An educationist, Mr Sule Razak, said ‘’the failure of the Federal Government to honour the agreement willingly signed in 2009 calls the integrity of our leaders to questioning.’’

Another respondent, Dr James Olugbede who lectures in one of the south-west universities, blamed ASUU for always calling off strike when the government has not initiated any plans to fully implement the agreement reached. For Mr Tochwoku Obi, the ‘’federal government was wrong not to honour a mutual agreement.It is insincerity. And ASUU should not relent in engaging them until their demands are met’’.

A second year Pharmacology student of University of Lagos, Mr Ibrahim Ajala feels the government does not appreciate the damage that incessant strikes does to the education sector and the consequent social problems created for students who are forced to stay at home. He however appeal to federal government to take the plight of students into consideration.

However, there was a divergent view as another respondent who claimed to be a lecturer and does not want his name in print, blamed ASUU for not changing tactics. It will be recalled that the strike disrupted second semester examinations in University of Ibadan, and part-time examinations were postponed at University of Jos, because of the strike.