The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it will appeal the ruling of the National Industrial Court ordering it to go back to the classroom.
ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke made this known Wednesday in a Channel TV interview programme ” Politics Today”.
He said it was wrong for the Federal Government to assure it of settling the impasse on one hand and then going to court and forcing the Union to call off the strike.
Osodeke who described the Federal Government’s decision as draconic said the union would appeal the judgement as it has two windows of appeal.
He queried the rationale behind the court decision against the union and said that when the whole issue is over that Nigerians should expect an exodus of lecturers to foreign countries.
He blamed the strike on the federal government’s failure to abide by agreements reached with the union for many years now adding that the National Association of Nigeria Students( NANS) are standing with ASUU on its demands that center on improved funding for Universities, review of salaries and payment of outstanding entitlements to lecturers and alternative payment solution, UTAS.
ASUU has been on strike since February 14 ,2022
The Union’s meetings with the Federal Government have ended without an end to the strike.
A meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and Pro -chancellors of universities before he jetted out to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly ( UNGA) was yet to bear fruit just as decision of another at the instance of the House of Representatives leadership with the union was waiting for arrival of the President before the National Industrial Court slammed a ruling on the union ordering it to call off the strike.
The Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige reportedly took the union to count o
In his ruling on Wednesday, Justice Polycap Hamman granted the federal government’s application for an interlocutory injunction to restrain ASUU from continuing with the strike.
The judge 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.
However, ASUU has said it would approach its Lawyers to appeal the ruling
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has criticised the ruling, describing it as a betrayal of equity.
NANS National Public Relations Officer , Giwa Temitope said the court’s decision does not offer a permanent solution to the dispute and that lecturers cannot be forced to resume their duties.
