Court orders ASUU to call off strike

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja has ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its seven-month strike and resume work immediately.

Justice Polycarp Hamman on Wednesday ruled that the strike was a breach of the Section 18(1)(2) of the Trade Disputes Act, which prohibits their action.

He said the use of “shall” in the Act connotes mandatory provision not to embark on the strike pending the determination of the main suit before the court.

The judge noted that the strike had caused irreparable damage to the careers of many students in Nigeria.

Justice Hamman referred the case to the president of the court for reassignment.

The union embarked on the strike to demand the re-negotiation of the 2009 FG-ASUU agreement, among others.

Other demands of ASUU are the adoption of UTAS as a replacement for IPPIS as a payment platform; payment of salary arrears for academic staff; payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA); revitalisation funds for the universities; release of White Paper on Visitation Panels that concluded their assignment last year; and non-proliferation of state universities.

After talks between ASUU and the government had broken down with the union insisting all its demands must be met and outstanding salaries paid, the Federal Government decided to take the matter to court.

Before the court ruling  President of ASUU Emmanuel Osodeke on Monday raised hope that the strike would end soon following the intervention of the House of Representatives.