NATION

Court rejects FG’s request on ASUU to call off strike

The National Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Abuja Saturday declined the Federal Government’s prayers for the striking Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) to return to the classroom.

The Government counsel, James Igwe (SAN), sought the order, pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.

Responding, ASUU’s lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) opposed the request, saying it amounts to determining the substantive suit before it is heard.

The court’s judge, P. l. Hammam, aligned with Falana’s submission. Following, Igwe then urged the court to accelerate hearing in the suit, citing the urgency for students to return to their classrooms.

For its part, SERAP again urged the court to join it as an interested party, adding doing so would serve the interest of justice. Its lawyer informed the court it had served processes on the other parties. ASUU’s lawyer agreed with SERAP by supporting its request for a joiner.

But, the government counsel retorted that he had only received the processes on Friday and he needed time to respond to it. In his ruling, Justice Hamman agreed with Igwe, before adjourning further hearing to Monday, September 19.

In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured pro-chancellors of Universities of his resolve to end the lingering lecturers’ strike.

Led by Professor Nimi Briggs, the pro-chancellors pleaded with the president on the contentious issues prolonging the strike.

He commended the government for increasing lecturers salaries by 23.5 per cent across board and by 35 per cent for professors. He, in addition, urged the President to further increase the lecturers’ emoluments based on the economic realities in the country.

Briggs, who before now was the government go-between with ASUU, also pleaded with the government to rescind its “no work, no pay”while assuring the lecturers would make up for lost time.

President Buhari however refused to give a spur of the moment reaction to his visitors plea, instead he promised to make wider consultations.

“I will make further consultations, and I’ll get back to you.â€

 

 

 

 

 

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button