The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has on Friday, advised the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to obey the National Industrial Court ruling, by calling off its ongoing nationwide indefinite strike, and return back to the classrooms immediately, while negotiations continue between them and the President Muhammadu Buhari Federal Government,
The Minister gave the advice to ASUU members while responding to the National Industrial Court ruling which restrained ASUU from continuing with its strike, when fielding questions from Journalists, in New York, United States of America, USA.
He said that the strike is detrimental to Public University Students who cannot afford to attend Private Tertiary Institutions, noting that the Trade Dispute Act mandates workers not to embark on strike once an issue has been referred to the Industrial Court.
The minister also advised that after obedience, ASUU can then apply for an appeal, if they so desire, or apply for a stay of execution of the judgement.
Meanwhile, ASUU filed an appeal over the ruling earlier today.
The Counsel to ASUU, Femi Falana, SAN, based the appeal on 14 grounds. The motion is seeking 2 reliefs, which are:
A. The leave to file the appeal pursuant to Section 243 of the Constitution, that requires the party to seek a leave of court to appeal the judgement or ruling of the National Industrial Court, NIC.
B. Seeking for a stay of execution of the orders of the court, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
More news later…