Strike: ‘Go and resolve your dispute amicably,’ Appeal Court urges FG, ASUU
Court of Appeal has urged the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resolve their dispute amicably out of court.
In its ruling presided over by Justice Georgewill Abraham, the Appeal Court, Wednesday, in Abuja, suggested 24 hours for the two parties to meet and dialogue over their differences in the lingering strike action and ‘come out with a resolution that would make Nigerians happy.’
Delivering judgment in the appeal filed by ASUU following a National Industrial Court ruling earlier instituted by the Federal Government, which had ordered the public university lecturers to return to work, Justice Georgewill tasked counsel to the Federal Government, Mr James Igwe and that of ASUU, Mr Femi Falana to ‘first sit down as lawyers, take a patriotic position and convey the position to their clients.’
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had dragged ASUU to the industrial court challenging its seven month-long strike, even as the lecturers insist that government must rescind its ‘no work, no pay’ rule, which had stalled further negotiations in the seven-point demand by the teachers.
“There is time for everything, time for war and time for peace. As Ministers in the temple of justice, we want to see the two of you as Senior Lawyers to encourage and explore amicable settlement of this dispute.
“In fact, we expect to return to this court on Thursday with good news that the dispute has been thrashed out and all the appreciation of Nigerians will go to you.
“So, talk to your clients to take the interest of the nation into consideration for the sake of our children. As you leave here, go and sit down and talk and resolve the matter,“ the judge advised.
Responding, counsel to the Nigerian Government, James Igwe promised to look into the counselling with his colleague.
On his part, counsel to ASUU, Mr Femi Falana SAN said he had initiated something similar and would be happy to do more to resolve the dispute.
Falana, however restated that an amicable resolution of the matter would involve give and take from the two parties.
In a related suit, the court presided over by Justice Barka Akawu has fixed October 6 for hearing in a motion filed by ASUU for stay of execution of the judgment of the Industrial Court which ordered the striking lecturers to go and resume work pending the resolution of their dispute with the Federal Government.
