Buhari to give verdict on ASUU strike today – Gbajabiamila

• Union, FG consider out-of-court settlement

President Muhammadu Buhari will give his verdict on the lingering tussle between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the strike embarked upon by members of the union that has kept federal university students at home for seven months now.

Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, disclosed this to newsmen Wednesday after a meeting with the President on the issue.

He said his team had a successful session with the President where he had gone to brief him on the outcome of his meetings with the leadership of ASUU and a number of government officials connected with the union matter regarding mode of payment and release of entitled funds.

Gbajabiamila said the team would return to the President on Thursday (today) after he must have gone through their recommendations on how to resolve the impasse, to receive Buhari’s pronouncement.

The Speaker said, “We have submitted our recommendations to Mr President based on our interaction with ASUU and other stakeholders during our engagements. He asked some pertinent questions to get clarification on some issues. I’m very optimistic that the President will give a positive response when we return to him on Thursday, after studying our recommendations.”

ASUU has been on strike since February 28, demanding better salary package, allowances, a new payment instrument and improvement in university infrastructure.

Meanwhile, a Court of Appeal judge, Biobele Georgewill, in Abuja on Wednesday urged the lawyers representing both ASUU and the Nigerian government to work out an out-of-court solution to the trade dispute.

ASUU represented by Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had filed an application for a stay of execution of a recent ruling of the National Industrial Court, which compelled the union to suspend its ongoing strike.

James Igwe, also a SAN, represented the FG at Wednesday’s proceedings.

“As senior lawyers, for the sake of the children and our lawyers, have a discussion among yourselves, leave the litigants out and agree on a way forward,” Georgewill told the two senior lawyers.

“The nation will appreciate you for it,” he added.

In an interview after the proceedings with journalists, Igwe expressed optimism that he and Falana would be able to reach an agreement before the hearing scheduled to come up on Thursday.

Falana also told journalists his clients also wanted an amicable resolution to the matter.

Hearing continues Thursday (today)

The Court of Appeal on Wednesday fixed Thursday to hear the application by ASUU seeking a stay of execution of the ruling of the National Industrial Court which ordered it to suspend its strike.

When the matter was called on Wednesday, counsel for ASUU, Falana, told the court that he had two applications before the court but that he wished to withdraw one. The court granted his request.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Falana told the court that he had served the preferred application on the Federal Government and had proof of service.

Counsel to the FG, Igwe, however, told the court that it was the withdrawn application that he had seen and responded to.

He said in light of the new development, he needed time to respond to the application which he said he intended to oppose.

The presiding judge, Hamma Barka, leading two other justices on the panel, consequently fixed Thursday to hear ASUU’S application.

The National Industrial Court on 21 September ordered ASUU to call off the strike.

The court granted the motion on notice filed by the FG, urging the lecturers to return to classrooms.

Ruling on the interlocutory injunction, the trial judge, Polycarp Hamman, restrained ASUU from continuing with the industrial action pending the determination of the suit filed against ASUU by the government.