Following the failure of the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to find a solution to the ongoing strike, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, and five university students have sued President Muhammadu Buhari to court.
The suit filed by their lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, seeks for the court to declare the failure of the Buhari led government to meet the demands of ASUU as unlawful.
Other defendants added to the suit include the Minister of Labour, Employment and Productivity, Chris Ngige, and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
The suit came on the heels of the ongoing industrial action by ASUU which is nearing its seventh month without any end in sight.
SERAP and the students in the suit filed at the National Industrial Court, Abuja are asking “an order directing President Buhari and Mr Ngige to immediately implement all the agreements with ASUU in order to end the strike action and violation of the students’ right to quality education.
The suit partly read, “Disruption of classes undermines both the quality and duration of students’ education. This situation has aggravated existing disparities in access to university education in the country, further marginalising economically disadvantaged parents and students.
“The Federal Government has failed to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the right to quality education, and the right to freedom of association through the principle of collective bargaining.
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“Although, Nigeria has ratified several human rights treaties, which guarantee the right to quality education of Nigerian students, the Federal Government has, over the years, refused to meet the demands by ASUU, and to address the poor environment in the country’s universities.
“The students, who are co-claimants in the suit, are Dongo Davou; Oyebode Babafemi; Ejie Kemkanma; Peter Aniefiok; and Imam Naziru. They are students of Plateau State University, Obafemi Awolowo University, University of Port Harcourt, University of Uyo, and University of Ibadan, respectively.
“The failure to implement the agreements with ASUU is also a fundamental breach of the right to education without discrimination or exclusion, as strike actions continue to penalize economically disadvantaged parents who have no means or capacity to send their children to private schools.
“The Federal Government has breached the explicit right to equal access to higher education of Nigerian children and young people, as provided for by article 13(2)(c) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
“Providing Nigerian children and young people equal access to education should be the core public service functions of the Federal Government.
Source: Punch
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