BY TEMI OHAKWE, ABUJA – The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), to suspend its ongoing strike.
The court gave the order following an application for an interlocutory injunction filed by the Federal Government to order ASUU to suspend its over seven-months strike.
The Federal Government through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, filed the suit at the National Industrial Court, challenging the industrial action of ASUU members.
The court presided over by Justice Polycarp Haman after listening to the submission by the Counsel to the Federal Government on Monday, Mr. James Igwe Esq, fixed ruling for today (Wednesday).
Justice Polycarp Hamman while granting the Federal Government’s application, dismissed the submission of the Counsel to ASUU, Femi Falana, SAN, who urged the Court to dismiss the interlocutory injunction.
Falana had prayed the Court to grant an accelerated hearing for the referral earlier filed by Ngige.
ASUU embarked on the nationwide strike on February 14, 2022 over the inability of the government to implement agreement it reached and signed in 2019 that include the release of the University Revitalisation Fund, adoption of the University Transparency and Accountability System (UTAS) payment platform as against the use of the IPPIS created by the federal government, release of the White Paper on Government Visitation Panel to public universities, and increase of salaries of lecturers among others.
