Court declines to hear FG’s application seeking to call off ASUU strike
…Adjourns case to September 19
The National Industrial Court (NICN) on Friday refused to hear an application by the Federal Government seeking an order directing the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend its on-going strike.
The court adjourned the case to Monday, September 19 for a hearing of the interlocutory application of the Federal Government.
At the resumed sitting on Friday, counsel to the Federal Government, James Igwe, asked the court to give the suit an accelerated hearing due to the urgency of the matter to enable the students to return to school.
Igwe told the court that since the matter was already in court, it would be proper for the strike to be called off pending the determination of the suit.
Counsel to ASUU, Femi Falana, argued that the matter was adjourned to Friday for further mention and not for hearing. He said he has been served with the Federal Government’s Interlocutory injunction.
Falana added that ASUU is currently meeting with stakeholders to ensure that this lingering crisis is resolved. He appealed to the Federal Government to cooperate with them to resolve the issue.
Justice Polycarp Hamman, subsequently adjourned the suit to Monday 19, 2022
ASUU has been on strike since February 14 to press home the demand for improved funding for universities, and a review of salaries for lecturers, among other issues Several meetings between ASUU and the federal government have ended deadlocked.
