The Academic Staff Union of Universities has offered reasons why it called off its eight months industrial action despite the fact that the Federal Government was yet to meet all its demands.
The explanation was offered by its President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, on a Channels Television programme on Sunday.
Osodeke, who spoke on: “Sunday Politics,” said: “As you have seen from our press release, although there were interventions by the Speaker (of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila) and others, the major reason we are resuming is because we are obeying the Industrial Court’s judgement.
“The issues have not been fully resolved and no agreements signed.
“We are resuming because we are a law-abiding organisation and we don’t want to break the law.
“We are also hoping that the intervention of the Speaker as promised by him will resolve this problem within a very short time.
“So, the issues have not been resolved, but we would resume because of that court injunction.”
Osodeke, who blamed the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, for taking the matter to court, argued that the best way to tackle trade disputes involving academics is “negotiation”.
He added: “But one of the ministers, the Minister of Labour, believes that the best way is to force them to class.
“But because of the interest of the Nigerian people, the students, their parents, and the Speaker who is intervening, our members will teach.”
Osodeke, however, said the lecturers may be unmotivated going back to class if the “no-work, no-pay” policy of the Federal Government stands, maintaining: “You cannot expect a hungry man to be at his best.”
To avoid this, Osodeke said the government “should pay the salaries” to the varsity teachers whom he added have to “meet up” with the backlog of classes missed during the strike.