The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Universities Commission has ordered vice-chancellors to re-open varsities and allow students resume lectures.
This was disclosed in a letter signed by Sam Onazi, the Director, Finance and Accounts of the NUC, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the commission, Professor Abubakar Rasheed.
The letter was addressed to all vice-chancellors; Pro-Chancellors and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities. It partly reads:
“Ensure that ASUU members immediately resume/commence lectures; Restore the daily activities and routines of the various University campuses.”
The national industrial court of Nigeria had on Wednesday, ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities to call off its ongoing nationwide strike.
ASUU had been on strike since February 14 on a demand for improved funding for universities, a review of salaries for lecturers, amongt other issues. Several meetings between ASUU and the Federal Government have been futile.
The Federal Government had recently gone to court to challenge the strike. Through its counsel, James Igwe, the government asked the court for an interlocutory injunction restraining ASUU from taking further steps as regards the strike, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The counsel to the Federal Government James Igwe on Wednesday pleaded with the court to order the striking lecturers to return to work, pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.
He said that the matter was not only urgent, but of a great national interest as millions of students have been at home for over seven months.
“Sections 47 of the Trade Dispute Act, TDA, gives your lordship the power to direct that no worker should continue to embark on strike pending when the applications are heard and determined,”,
Igwe argued.
Igwe said there was need for the matter to be well determined to enable university students to return to school, adding that failure to call off the strike would cause irreparable damage to not only the students but also to the nation.
According to him, since the dispute between FG and lectures was already before the court for adjudication, it would be proper and in the interest of justice for the strike to be suspended.
In his ruling, Justice Hamman held that the application was meritorious and deserved to be granted by the court.
While dismissing objections ASUU raised through its lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, the court held 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.”
According to Punch, ASUU had since filed 14 grounds of appeal to challenge the order.
