The President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has apologised to Nigerian students and parents for the “unduly prolonged” eight months strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The Ministry of Labour and Employment in a release thanked all those involved in the negotiations leading to the calling off of the strike.
A statement by Olajide Oshundun, the Deputy Director of Press in the Ministry, read in part, “Now that ASUU has decided to obey the judgement of the National Industrial Court by calling off the devastating action, we apologise to all students and parents, of which the Honourable Minister is one, for this unduly prolonged strike, which is unwarranted ab initio.”
The government noted that “a groundwork is being laid, of which we are confident, will save Nigerians, this unpalatable experience of incessant strikes in future.”
SaharaReporters on Friday reported that ASUU suspended its eight-month-old protracted strike after an overnight National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
SaharaReporters had also on Tuesday reported that members of ASUU voted on Tuesday and Wednesday at their branches over their resolution on the ongoing industrial action.
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
The national industrial court however, ordered the lecturers back to work.
The ruling was appealed at the appellate court in Abuja but was however not granted hearing as the judge ordered ASUU to obey first the ruling of the lower court.