by ‘Jola Sotubo

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday suspended its proposed National Executive Council (NEC) during which it was supposed to reach a decision on the suspension of its 4 month old strike.

[READ: ASUU strike: Meeting postponed indefinitely, strike continues]

The meeting was to be held in Kano and its suspension led to widespread shock and disappointment all over the country as thousands of students had hoped that the end of the strike had finally come.

[READ: “God punish ASUU & FG!”: See the top ten tweets about ASUU postponement today]

Unfortunately for them , that was not the case. In explaining the indefinite suspension of the meeting, the union’s President Nasir Faggae said that the move was necessary due to the sudden and tragic death of Professor Festus Iyayi.

[READ: ‘He was pierced through the heart’: How ex-ASUU president, Iyayi, died – Doctor]

Vanguard reports:

At a briefing, Fagge told reporters in Kano that “we are compelled to postpone this meeting in the light of the sudden death of one of our strongest pillars who died yesterday (Tuesday).

“As you can see for yourself, we are mourning the departure of this great scholar and you would agree with me that in this circumstance we cannot look at issues objectively.”

The ASUU President who looked visibly shocked by the unfortunate development, described Iyayi “as a strong pillar of the union,’ stressing that “this is a great loss to the entire country.”

No new date has been fixed for the NEC meeting.

However, labour watchers are of the opinion that ASUU may not reschedule the NEC meeting until after the burial of the late professor.