Strike: NIC To Rule On Suit Against ASUU On Wednesday

The National Industrial Court in Nigeria on Monday fixed Wednesday, 21 September 2022, as the deciding date for the application brought to it by the Federal Government seeking the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resume work while awaiting the court’s decision on their ongoing strike.

Justice Polycarp Hamman fixed the date after the lead counsel to the government, Mr. James Igwe, stated his application seeking an order of the court restraining ASUU from further continuing with the nationwide strike.

The judge set aside the preliminary objection by ASUU through its counsel, Femi Falana, opposing the court’s hearing of the Federal Government’s application.

The court further made it known that the preliminary objection was unready for hearing, adding that the rule of the court has provisions for both the preliminary objection and the main suit.

James Igwe agreed with Section 18(1)E of the Trade Disputes Act which provided that employees cannot be on strike when a matter is before the Industrial Court.

The Nigerian government had approached the court to challenge the ongoing industrial action by the university lecturers.