The Federal Government through the National University Commission, NUC has directed University Vice Chancellors, VCs to immediately open schools and resume lectures for students. The matching order was issued through a letter signed by the Director, Finance and Account of the NUC, Sam Onazi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary, ES, of the Commission, professor Abubakar Rasheed. Vigil360 learned that the letter was made available to all VCs; pro-chancellors and chairmen of governing councils of all federal universities.
The content of the letter partly reads; “Ensure that ASUU members immediately resume/commence lectures; Restore the daily activities and routines of the various University campuses”.
Vigil360 last week reported that the national Industrial court had on Wednesday last week ordered the Academic Staff Union of the Nigerian Universities to call off the industrial action they commence in February 2022.
Part of what led the lecturers to embark on strike was their inclusion in the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System, IPPIS, a payment Platform introduced by the Federal Government for all its workers.
Other demands of ASUU include the re-negotiation of the 2009 agreement with the federal government.
However, several meeting between the ASUU and the Federal Government has failed to address the Issued even when some highly revered clergymen and traditional rulers intervene on their behalf, the ASUU has remained adamant in their demand.
Consequently, the federal Government approached the Industrial Court for the interpretation of the labour Law where the judgement turned out in favour of the Federal government with the court directing ASUU to resume back to classes.
The government through its counsel, James Igwe, prayed the court for an interlocutory injunction restraining ASUU from taking further steps as regards the strike, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The counsel to the Federal Government James Igwe on Wednesday prayed the court to order the striking varsity lecturers to in the interim, return to work, pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.
The Lawyer argued that the matter was of the national interest dimension as millions of students have been shut out of their studies for months by ASUU.
Igwe informed the court that, “Sections 47 of the Trade Dispute Act, TDA, gives your lordship the power to direct that no worker should continue to embark on strike pending when the applications are heard and determined,”,
He informed the court that the continued strike is capable of inflicting irreversible damage to both students and the nation, and therefore, let the strike be suspended before the determination of the substantives case.
In his judgement, Justice Hamman held that the application was meritorious and deserved to be granted by the court.
The ASUU through its council, Femi Falana, SAN objected to the judgement, but the judge overruled him saying the industrial action was detrimental to the national interest.
Therefore, the court granted the federal government council and ordered that ASUU, “whether by themselves, members, agents, privies or howsoever called, from taking further steps and doing any act in continuance of the strike action, pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed.”
Meanwhile, ASUU has filled 14 ground appeals challenging the order of returning back to school.