ASUU

COURT ADJOURNS WITHHELD ASUU SALARIES CASE

Published

1 year ago

April 2, 2023

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has adjourned to May 2 hearing on the case between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities over lecturers’ eight months’ salaries withheld by the government, as learnt by ENIOLA EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT .

The union has, however, expressed optimism that the “truth will prevail” over the matter.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, dragged the union to court following the failure of the government and ASUU to reconcile during the strike which occurred in 2022.

The court commended Ngige for taking legal action against ASUU following the failed reconciliation.

The minister requested an interlocutory injunction restraining ASUU from continuing the strike, pending the determination of the substantive suit with number: NICN/ABJ/270/22-FGN, Min. of Edu. vs ASUU.

The suit sought the interpretation of the Trade Dispute Act CAP T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) 2004, as it relates to industrial actions.

Although the court earlier ordered ASUU to suspend the strike, an order which the union complied with, the judge adjourned the hearing on the matter of withheld salaries to May 2, 3, and 4.

Speaking with our correspondent on the series of adjournments, the ASUU Chairman at the Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State, who also serves as a member of the National Executive Council of ASUU, Prof Gbolahan Bolarin, said, “One thing is sure and that is the fact that we are very optimistic that the truth will come out. Everybody will know the truth, so we are optimistic.”

ASUU

NLC, TUC, ASUU, Others Defy Court Order As They Begin Strike

Published

5 months ago

November 14, 2023

Pamilerin Fedpolygist

The NLC had on Monday announced the commencement of the industrial action from midnight of Monday, 13 November, in defiance to a restraining order issued by the National Industrial Court in Abuja on Friday.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and its affiliates including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), on Tuesday, began a nationwide strike, in defiance to a restraining court order barring them from embarking on the industrial action.

The two major labour unions, NLC and TUC, had declared the strike, following the brutalisation of the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, in Imo State on 1 November. Mr Ajaero was attacked in Owerri, the state capital, during an NLC protest against the Imo State government over alleged maltreatment of workers in the state.

The unions on Monday directed their members to down tools across the country as from Tuesday.

This is despite the restraining order issued by the National Industrial Court, in Abuja, on Friday, stopping the labour unions from embarking on the strike. The judge, Benedict Kanyip, ordered the two major labour unions to stop their industrial action scheduled to commence 14 November.

The interim order followed an ex-parte request by the Nigerian government through the office of Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, due to the Labour unions’ threat to embark on strike.

Ignoring the court order, ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, a professor of soil science, on Monday, directed compliance with the strike declaration in a letter to ASUU zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons across the country.

“As an affiliate of NLC, all members of our union are hereby directed to join this action of NLC to protect the interest of Nigerian workers and the leadership of the union. Zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons should immediately mobilise our members to participate in the action,” ASUU President, Mr Osodeke, wrote in a letter to zonal and branch chairpersons of the union.

When PREMIUM TIMES asked Mr Osodeke if he was aware of the subsisting court order stopping the strike, he said the question should be directed to the NLC which called for the strike.

“Call the NLC, ASUU did not declare a strike, NLC declared the strike. Call NLC,” he said in a telephone interview on Tuesday morning.

But the NLC’s head of information, Benson Upah, did not respond to phone calls and messages sent to his line requesting for comments, as of the time of filing this report.

The labour unions had, on Monday, refused to acknowledge the court order while directing their members to withdraw their services as from Tuesday.

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