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Nigerian Striking Lecturers’ Union, ASUU Branches To Vote Tuesday, Wednesday Over Eight-Month-Old Strike

asuu
October 11, 2022

A top member of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU who disclosed this to The Punch in Abuja on Tuesday said that the decision of the various branches will be transmitted to the NEC for final decision.

Members of the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will vote on Tuesday (today) and Wednesday at their branches over their resolution on the ongoing eight-month-old industrial action.

 

A top member of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU who disclosed this to The Punch in Abuja on Tuesday said that the decision of the various branches will be transmitted to the NEC for final decision.

 

The source said, “We got the directive after the meeting with the speaker yesterday (Monday). The intervention was timely. Branches will vote between today and tomorrow after which the decisions will be convened to the NEC.”

 

The union’s new decision is sequel to the meeting between the leadership of the union and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who called several meetings to intervene between ASUU and the Nigerian Government.

 

Femi Falana (SAN), the lead counsel for ASUU earlier explained that the strike which started on February 14 this year would be called off in a few days.

 

There had been several meetings between the ASUU leadership and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige who represents the Nigerian Government but after what he described as “failed negotiations,” the government sued ASUU at the National Industrial Court.

 

In its ruling on September 21, the National Industrial Court granted the motion on notice filed by the Nigerian government and ordered ASUU to end the strike and return to the classroom immediately.

 

The trial judge, Justice Polycarp Hamman, while ruling on the interlocutory injunction, restrained ASUU from continuing with the strike pending the determination of the suit filed against the union by the Nigerian government.

 

But ASUU, not satisfied with the ruling of the National Industrial Court, appealed the judgment at the Court of Appeal, where it also filed a stay of execution of the ruling of the NIC.

 

However, the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling of the lower court and ordered the striking lecturers to “immediately” call off the strike and resume work with immediate effect.

 

Meanwhile, the Appeal Court noted that ASUU has the right to appeal the decision of the industrial court.

 

The Appeal Court panel agreed with the Nigerian government’s argument that ASUU cannot approach the appellate court with “dirty hands”, saying, “should the applicant fail to obey the order (of the lower court), the leave granted shall be automatically vacated.”

 

 

Topics
Education