— By Al Orits Eye —
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has ordered its affiliates to resume all services earlier withdrawn and return to the classroom as of Monday, October 17, 2022.
This directive is contained in a statement released today by ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, which officially calls off the over eight months strike embarked on by them since February 14, 2022.
The National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU held an emergency meeting at the Comrade Festus lyayi National Secretariat, University of Abuja, Abuja, on Thursday, 13th October 2022 to review developments since ASSU declared an indefinite strike action on August 29, 2022.
During the indefinite strike, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, through a referral, approached the National Industrial Court (NIC) for the interpretation of the provision of sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 18 (1) of the Trade Dispute Act, Cap T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, whether the on-going prolonged strike by ASUU, which started since 14th February 2022 is legal even after statutory apprehension by the Minister of Labour and Employment?
The Minister also asked for an interlocutory order against the continuation of the strike and the National Industrial Court in its wisdom gave an order compelling ASUU to resume their services pending the determination of the substantive suit.
“Given the nature of the order, and in the opinion of our counsel, there was the need to appeal the interlocutory injunction granted against our Union at the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal acknowledged the validity of the grounds of the Union’s appeal but still upheld the order of the lower court and ordered our Union to comply with the ruling of the lower court aa s condition precedent for the appeal to be heard,” Prof Osodeke stated in a communique issued after the NEC meeting.
According to the statement, NEC noted the series of meetings with the leadership of the House of Representatives led by the Hon. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as intervention efforts of other well-meaning Nigerians both within and outside government and the progress, ss made so far.
“NEC deliberated on the recommendations of the Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila-led Committee within the framework of the FGN/ASUU’s Memorandum of Action(MoA) of 2020 on the contending issues that led to the strike action. For the avoidance of doubt, the issues include: Funding for the r Revitalisation of publiuniversities’es Earned Academic Allowances, the Proliferation of public Universities, Visitation Panels/Release of White Papers, University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a broad spectrum software to stop illegality and provide for an alternative, payment platform in the university system, Renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement.”
“While appreciating the commendable efforts of the leadership of the House of Representatives and other patriotic Nigerians who waded into the matter, NEC noted with regrets that the issues in dispute are yet to be satisfactorily addressed.
“However, as a law-abiding Union and in deference to appeals by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, and in recognition of the efforts of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, and other well-meaning Nigerians, ASUU NEC resolved to suspend the strike action embarked upon on 14th February 2022. Consequently, all members of ASUU are hereby directed to resume all services hitherto withdrawn with effect from 12:01 on Friday, 14th October 2022,” the communique reads.”
