On Friday, September 16, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) declined to hear the federal government’s motion to have the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) be ordered to cease its current strike.
Remember that the subject was postponed by the court on Monday, September 12 to be discussed further on September 16.
Due to the fact that millions of students have been at home since February 14th, the federal government attempted to urge the court to hear its interlocutory application in court on Friday through its attorney, James Igwe.
Igwe said;
“Section 47 of the Trade Dispute Act gives your lordship the power to direct that no worker should continue to embark on strike pending when the applications are heard and determined.”
The application, according to ASUU’s attorney Femi Falana, cannot be accepted because the day’s agenda only calls for further mention.
Falana also revealed that on September 20 his clients will meet with interested parties, including representatives, to resolve the problem.
The Senior Advocate said;
“We are going out of our way to ensure that this matter is resolved. We are going out of our way to ensure that this matter is resolved and we appeal to the claimant to corporate with us.”
Ruling on the case, Justice Polycarp Hamman said he would not hear the application since the matter was slated for further hearing.
Hamman also said the application for an interlocutory injunction, which has an affidavit of urgency, would be heard first at the next sitting.
