The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said there was no cause for alarm over the back-to-work judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) and asked its members to remain calm.
Justice Polycarp Hamman gave the order in his ruling on a suit filed by the Federal Government seeking an order for ASUU to call off its seven months strike.
He said he was invoking section 18 the Trade Dispute Act, which allows the court to order an end to strike when national interest is at stake.
Justice Hamman held that the application was meritorious and deserved to be granted by the court.
The court dismissed the objections raised against the suit by ASUU on grounds that the strike action was detrimental to public university students that cannot afford to attend private tertiary institutions.
“The balance of convenience tilts in favour of the applicant. I hold that this application is meritorious and this application is granted”, Justice Hamman ruled.
The court, thereafter, issued an order, restraining ASUU, “whether by themselves, members, agents, privies or howsoever called, from taking further steps and doing any act in continuance of the strike action, pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed.”
The Federal Government had through the Minister of Labour and Employment Dr.Chris Ngige filed the suit by way of referral to resolve the issue of the ongoing strike by ASUU.
Counsel to the Federal Government, Mr James Igwe, SAN, counsel to FG in his submission had informed the court that the application for the injunction was dated September 12 and filed same date.
Igwe added that the application was brought in pursuant to the rules of the NICN 2017 proceeding.
But ASUU, in a statement by the Lagos Zonal Coordinator, Dr. Adelaja Odukoya, quoted the National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, as saying, “our lawyer is filing an appeal and stay of execution of the judgment.”
The statement titled: “NICN back to work order on ASUU: Be calm”, Prof. Osodeke urged members of the union to remain calm as there is no cause for alarm on the back-to-work order delivered earlier today (yesterday).
“Members should remain resolute and strong. A people united can never be defeated. Solidarity without compromise,’’ he stated.