Teachers in Nigeria's public universities have suspended their over five-month strike that has put academic activities in the institutions in abeyance.
The umbrella Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) announced the suspension at a news conference in Minna, capital of the northern state of Niger, Tuesday.
ASUU President Nasir Fagge said the union decided to suspend the strike following an agreement between it and the federal government.
On 11 Dec., ASUU signed the pact on conditions for ending the strike, after the presidency presented a proof of the payment of 200 billion naira (US$1.2 billion) into an account with the Central Bank of Nigeria as part of funds to offset the lecturers’ demands.
The government has also promised to set up a committee to fully implement the agreement with the union.
The strike by ASUU followed government’s inability to implement an October 2009 agreement reached by both parties.
The university teachers went on strike 1 July 2013 to press for the implementation of the agreement, which concerns better remuneration and an improved funding of the nation's public universities.
Shortly after news of the suspension spread, the Federal Government inaugurated a 12-man monitoring committee on the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee on Needs Assessment of Nigerian Universities.The Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, is the chairman of the committee.
