Following the order of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NICN, for suspension of its ongoing strike, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has said the union is awaiting professional advice from its lawyers.
This was stated by the President of ASUUm Emmanuel Osodeke, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Wednesday.
Recall that the lecturers had on February 14, 2022, embarked on strike over dispute with the federal government. Among the contending issues are the review of the welfare package and the deployment of the University Transparency Accountability Solution, UTAS.
The federal government filed a suit at the NICN after the strike entered its seventh month. The decision followed a series of failed dialogues between the ASUU and the federal government.
However, the National Association of Nigeria Students, NANS, have organised protests by staging a blockade of the international airport, Lagos, and warned of further blockade if a resolution is not reached o the lingering strike.
In its ruling on the suit filed before the NICN by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, the court ordered ASUU to suspend the strike pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Justice Polycarp Hamman held that the argument of Femi Falana, the counsel to the defendants, that the act of the applicants had been concluded is of no moment and flies in the face of Exhibit 2 dated August 29, 2022.
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According to Hamman, the strike had not ended as of the time of reading his ruling on Wednesday.
He said that lecturers cannot embark on an industrial action when relevant sections of the TDA have been complied with by the Minister of Labour in conciliating a labour dispute.
He said: “Section 18 Subsection 1 of the TDA, 2004, connotes an obligation, which is mandatory and leaves no room for discretion.
“Section 18 (2) criminalises any contravention of 18(1) and imposes the fine of N100 or imprisonment for six months for an individual and N1000 for a corporate body.
“In this circumstance and on the strength of Section 254.6.(1) b of the constitution, Section 18(1) e of the TDA, Section 7(1) e, 16 and 19 b of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria Act 2006, I hold that this application is meritorious and same is hereby granted.”
Source: Premium Times
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