ASUU files appeal, seeks to stay execution of ruling on strike

 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has filed an appeal to challenge a court ruling which directed the union to call off its nationwide strike.

 

The appeal, filed through its legal team led by Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria, is premised on 14 grounds.

 

The union is, among other things, seeking the leave of the appellate court to file the appeal pursuant to section 243 of the constitution that requires a leave of court to appeal the judgment or ruling of the national industrial court (NIC).

 

ASUU is also seeking a stay of execution of the orders of the court, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

 

ASUU has been on strike since February 14 to press home the demand for improved funding for universities, a review of salaries for lecturers, among other issues.

 

Several meetings between ASUU and the federal government have ended in deadlock.

 

Consequently, the federal government went to the national industrial court to challenge the strike.

 

Delivering a ruling on Wednesday, Polycarp Hamman, the judge, granted the federal government’s application for an interlocutory injunction to restrain ASUU from continuing with the strike.

 

The judge also ordered members of the union to resume work pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

 

He held that the strike is detrimental to public university students who cannot afford to attend private tertiary institutions.