The National Industrial Court orders ASUU to call off its seven-months-old strike

 

Image credit - Tribune Online

The NIC (National Industrial Court) orders the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, on 21st September 2022, to call off it's seven-months-old strike.

Since the ASUU strike was declared on 14th February 2022, numerous meetings have been held with the FG and ASUU to call off the strike and for students to return back to their classrooms but the Academic Staff Union of Universities, accuse the government of not being sincere in its negotiations. 

The government approached the court to compel striking lecturers to return to the classrooms.The Union's Lawyer, Femi Falana, argued that ASUU would not have embarked on strike if the government kept to agreements it signed with the Union.

Mr James Igwe, the federal government's Lawyer, in the court, 2 days ago, opined that the ASUU strike is of national interest and must be treated as urgent, as millions of university students have been starved of lectures for over seven months. He said that it is important for the matter to be carefully scrutinized and looked into, so as for university students to return back to school and continue their learning. He adds that the failure of lectures commencing immediately, will not only cause irreparable damage to the students, but also to the nation at large.

While the court discharged objections made by ASUU through it's Lawyer Femi Salani, SAN, it pressed that the strike is illfare to public University students who can't afford private tertiary Institutions.

     

Justice Hamman discharged all objections and ordered the striking University lecturers to return to the classroom.
    

Nevertheless, the ASUU vowed to appeal the order, by the National Industrial Court, NIC, directing the suspension of it's seven months old strike.
    

The Government also says it will order all Vice Chancellors to reopen public universities in compliance to the order.