PORTHARCOUT
AFTER four months, members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) and the State University of Education have suspended their industrial action.

The suspension of the strike, which crippled academic activities in the institutions since October, 2010, followed the intervention of the Rivers State Economic Advisory Council (RSEAC) headed by former University of Port Harcourt Vice Chancellor, Professor Nimi Briggs.

RSUST–ASUU Chairman, Dr. Felix Igwe, told The Guardian that an agreement signed by the chairman of the university governing council, Justice Adolphus Karibi-Whyte (rtd), the chairman of RSEAC and the union stipulated that while the strike has been suspended, the RSEAC would facilitate the implementation of the 2009 Federal Government and ASUU agreement.

Igwe explained that the 2009 agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU has been adopted as a working document by the governing councils of both institutions.

“Consequently, ASUU congresses in the two universities resolved to suspend the industrial action until March 31, 2011 and will resume the action without further notice if the 2009 Federal Government/ASUU agreement is not implemented by April 1, 2011,” he said.

The Registrar and Secretary to the council, Mrs. D.C Odimabo, had a month ago issued a directive to ASUU members to end the strike penultimate Thursday or risk mass sack, a threat that the union defied.

Igwe had told The Guardian that the striking teachers declined to sign a letter issued by the governing council asking them to resume work.

According to him, the only condition that would ensure the resumption of normal academic activities was the state government’s acceptance to implement the 2009 Federal Government and ASUU agreement.

He said: “Major key demands is the acceptance to implement the 2009 ASUU and Federal Government agreement. That is key. By the way, all the other universities have implemented the agreement except in Rivers State.”

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