Court Orders ASUU To Suspend On Going Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has been ordered by the Nigerian National Industrial Court to end its ongoing nationwide strike.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14 to express its demands for increased financing for institutions and a review of alecturers’ pay, among other things.

The institution and the Federal Government had held several talks that resulted in no resolution, and as a result, the strike was contested in court by the Federal Government.

According to The Cable, the government asked the court for an interlocutory injunction to prevent ASUU from continuing its strike while the court considered the substantive lawsuit.

The request was made through the government’s attorney, James Igwe.

Igwe claimed that the lawsuit was brought in the interest of the nation and added that the strike would cause both the nation and the students of Nigeria irreversible damage.

According to the attorney’s argument, employees are prohibited from going on strike while a case is pending before the industrial court under section 18(1)E of the Trade Disputes Act.

Femi Falana, an attorney for ASUU, argued against the application, calling it “wrong and scandalous” to compel the union to start work.

he stated that no strike would have been necessary if the applicants had adhered to the multiple agreements and MOUs established in the past.

Additionally, he said that since the strike had already lasted seven months, there was no need for the injunction.

Judge Polycarp Hamman made a decision on the application on Wednesday and approved the request.

According to him, students at public universities who cannot afford to attend private tertiary institutions have suffered because of the strike.

He claimed that after a matter has been referred to the industrial court, the TDA forbids employees from going on strike.

He said, “The balance of convenience tilts in favour of the applicant.

“I hold that this application is meritorious and this application is granted.”