The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has petitioned the Abuja-based Court of Appeal to overturn the National Industrial Court’s (NIC) decision ordering it to end it’s over seven-month-old strike action.
The union also requested a stay of the judgment’s execution in its 14-ground appeal, which it filed through a legal team led by Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, a prominent human rights advocate.
You may recall that the National Industrial Court (NIC) ordered the striking university lecturers to return to the classroom last Wednesday. This decision was made pending the outcome of a lawsuit the Federal Government filed to challenge the validity of the lecturers’ strike action.
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Following an application made by the FG through its attorney, Mr. James Igwe, the interim injunction ordering ASUU members to get back to work was issued.
According to Justine Hamman, the directive was both in the best interests of the nation and of the students who have been staying at home since February 14th.
According to him, public university students who cannot afford to attend private tertiary institutions suffered as a result of the strike action.
“The balance of convenience tilts in favor of the applicant.
“I hold that this application is meritorious and this application is granted”, Justice Hamman ruled.
