The National Industrial Court’s decision ordering the reopening of all public institutions after a seven-month shutdown has been studied, according to the legal spokesperson for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and necessary action will be taken.
Justice Polycarp Hamman, a vacation judge, on Wednesday ordered the varsity staff union to end its nationwide strike after disagreeing with ASUU’s attorney, Femi Falana, that FG’s claim that the strike would harm students’ ability to pursue higher education was based on hearsay.
The Justice subsequently restrained the union from the industrial action pending the determination of the main case bordering on the terms of agreement between the two parties ( FG and ASUU).
Speaking to newsmen, Falana, who was represented in court by Dr. Odorche Edor, said ASUU’s legal team will adopt its next line of action after going through the ruling.
“The court has ruled that members of ASUU are restrained from continuing the strike action and that they should return back to the classroom pending the determination of the substantive suit.
“As per the next action, there are quite a number of options open to the union, we will study the ruling with the legal team and then we will adopt the most appropriate option,” he said.
NANs Rejects Court Order
Meanwhile, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has rejected the court judgement that mandated the Academic Staff Union of Universities to call off its ongoing industrial action.
Reacting to the court ruling in a statement, NANS Spokesperson, Temitope Giwa, said the judgement goes against equity and fairness.
He said that rather than direct ASUU to return to the classroom, the court should have ordered the Federal Government to meet the demands of the striking lecturers.
Giwa pointed out that the moment the government took ASUU to court shows that it cannot handle a crisis, adding that the court cannot force members of ASUU to return to work.
