Victor EzejaThe National Industrial Court has ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend the ongoing strike.
The court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday gave the order following an application for an interlocutory injunction filed by the Nigerian government to force ASUU to suspend the seven-month-old strike.
Recall that the Federal Government through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige had filed a suit in the National Industrial Court, challenging the action of the university academic union.
The court had in its previous sitting on Monday, after listening to the argument on the application by the counsel to federal government, James Igwe, fixed the ruling on Wednesday (today).
Igwe had argued that it would be proper for the strike to be called off pending the determination of the suit, to enable students to return to school.
Justice Polycarp Hamman, in his ruling, granted the government’s application.
The judge also dismissed the argument by counsel to ASUU, Femi Falana (SAN) that the interlocutory injunction should be dismissed and the court should instead grant an accelerated hearing for the referral earlier filed by Ngige.
ASUU embarked on the nationwide strike on February 14, 2022 over inability of the federal government to meet their demands some of which include release of the University Revitalisation Fund, adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) payment platform instead of the IPPIS created by the federal government, release of the White Paper on Government Visitation Panel to public universities, and increase of salaries of lecturers.
NANS Continue Protest At Abuja Airport
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) continued its protest today at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The students who have been protesting against the industrial action by ASUU charged the federal government to resolve all outstanding issues with the university union so that they can return to school.
As shown in a viral video earlier today, the students blocked access road to the airport preventing vehicular traffic, just like they did at Lagos Airport on Monday. This forced commuters especially those rushing to board flights to trek with their luggage on their heads.
See the video below:
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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What’s the point of this ruling? It underlines the fact that the judiciary is an appendage of the executive.
If students return and ASSU doesn’t go to class, what’s the achievement of the order? The order does not include that lectures must resume(that’s an order that would have made sense). This order only wants students to return to school.
I still hold that govt should be open and pragmatic to settle all the grey areas of the dispute.