A move by the Federal Government of Nigeria to legally frustrate the ongoing strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has been dashed.
The Federal Government had approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), in a bid to get an order to mandate ASUU to suspend its ongoing strike.
However, the move suffered a setback on Friday, September 16, as the NICN refused to hear the application.
Recall that the court had on Monday, September 12, adjourned the matter to September 16 for further mention.
In court on Friday, the federal government through its counsel, James Igwe, tried to persuade the court to hear its interlocutory application which it claimed is a matter of national interest as millions of students have been at home since February 14.
Igwe said;
“Section 47 of the Trade Dispute Act gives your lordship the power to direct that no worker should continue to embark on strike pending when the applications are heard and determined.”
However, ASUU’s lawyer, Femi Falana kicked against the application which he said cannot be taken because the business for the day is for further mention.
Falana also disclosed that his clients will be meeting with stakeholders, including members of the house of representatives on September 20, to settle the issue.
The Senior Advocate said;
“We are going out of our way to ensure that this matter is resolved. We are going out of our way to ensure that this matter is resolved and we appeal to the claimant to corporate with us.”
Ruling on the case, Justice Polycarp Hamman said he would not hear the application since the matter was slated for further hearing.
Hamman also said the application for an interlocutory injunction, which has an affidavit of urgency, would be heard first at the next sitting.
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