APPEAL COURT ORDERS ASUU TO RESUME WORK IMMEDIATELY

Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja ordering the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its strike immediately.

The appellate court stated that calling off the strike is the only condition that the union’s request to appeal the ruling of the National Industrial Court could be given effect.

After a series of setback in its negotiation with ASUU, the Federal Government had dragged the union to the National Industrial Court.

You will recall that on September 21, 2022, Justice Polycarp Hamman, the presiding judge, directed the striking lecturers to resume work immediately pending the resolution of their dispute with the government.

The judge had predicated his action on Section 18 of the Trade Dispute Act that empowers him to make such decisions in the interest of the nation.

Dissatisfied, the university filed an appeal to challenge the order of the industrial court. The appellate court had advised the Federal Government and the union to settle the matter out of court.

The panel led by Hamman Barka said for ASUU to file its notice of appeal within seven days, it must show evidence that its members have resumed work immediately.

The panel held that failure to adhere to the order will make the appeal incompetent before the court of appeal.