BREAKING: Appeal Court Gives Final Verdict on ASUU Strike
- It's a bad day for ASUU as the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja directed the lecturers' union to call off its strike with immediate effect
- The presiding judge, Justice Hamma Barka, said ASUU should obey the order of the industrial court, which had directed the suspension of the strike
- Before the ruling, the appellate court had tried to encourage both ASUU and the federal government to resolve the crisis out of court
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FCT, Abuja - The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call its strike immediately.
TheCable reports that the appellate presided over by Justice Hamma Barka gave the verdict on Friday, October 7.
Source: Facebook
Legit.ng gathers that the court said ASUU should obey the order of an industrial court, which directed the suspension of the strike before seeking to appeal the judgment.
Why the strike should be called off - Appeal court
The appellate court stated that ASUU has to call off the strike, adding that it is the only condition that the union’s request to appeal the ruling of the National Industrial Court could be given effect, Daily Trust also reported.
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After a series of setbacks in its negotiation with ASUU, the federal government had dragged the union to the National Industrial Court.
In his ruling in September, Justice Polycarp Hamman, the presiding judge of the industrial, directed the striking lecturers to resume work immediately pending the resolution of their dispute with the government.
He predicated his action on Section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act that empowers him to make such decisions in the interest of the nation.
The union was, however, dissatisfied and filed an appeal to challenge the order of the industrial court.
How Appeal Court encouraged ASUU, FG to settle out of court
Before its latest verdict, the appellate court had advised the federal government and the union to settle the matter out of court.
However, when the matter came up for hearing on Thursday, October 6, the lead counsel for ASUU, Femi Falana (SAN), told the Court of Appeal that both parties could not resolve the eight-month-old strike out of court.
James Igwe, the federal government’s lawyer, also told the Court of Appeal that they could not resolve the dispute despite the admonition.
ASUU strike: Nigerians react
Joseph Nkashi commented on Facebook:
"This is not a court matter. No court can compel lecturers to resume when the issues that resulted in the strike has not been addressed. Using the court to arm twist ASUU won't work."
Samuel Ezekiel said:
"The judge should as well go and teach the students. He is also qualified to teach in law department."
Emmanuel Oriavwote said:
"In Nigeria there is no separation of power amongst the organs of government. Each of them is answerable to the president. Well, ASUU deserves what they get. Are they not the same professors used to rig elections for politicians? Now the table has turned."
Dare Shittu said:
"Great! Any lecturer that failed to obey the Court ruling should be sack with immediate effects."
Yousuf Adam said:
"The federal government and their counterparts in other sections of rulership,never cease to amaze me.
"How can a court of law,force ASUU members to resume school immediately,without sorting out their demands. Would you force them to teach and give quality education to the students. This is not funny at all. Any way,ASUU can continue to the Supreme Court."
ASUU complicit in the menace of corruption in universities, says Buhari
Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, October 4, accused ASUU of complicity in the menace of corruption in Nigeria's tertiary education sector.
President Buhari spoke in an address during the fourth National Summit on Diminishing Corruption in the Public Sector.
The event was jointly organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Source: Legit.ng
