For nearly eight months, Nigerian varsity students have been kept out of class due to the lingering crisis between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government.
Though series of meetings followed suit, the two parties have not been able to come to an agreement.
In the midst of the tussle, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige had dragged the Academic body to court following series of what he termed ‘failed negotiations.’
The National Industrial Courts’ ruling on September 21st ordered ASUU to call off the strike – a ruling in favour of the federal government which was further appealed by the body in the appellate court.
The Punch reports that the Court of Appeal also ordered the striking lecturers to “immediately” call off the eight months strike, having struck out ASUU’s application for a stay of execution of the lower court’s order.
It said it was within ASUU’s right to appeal the decision of the Industrial Court.
Agreeing with the Federal Government’s argument that ASUU could not approach the appellate court with “dirty hands”, the panel held, “should the applicant fail to obey the order (of the lower court), the leave granted shall be automatically vacated.”
Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila had recently picked interest in the matter and has continued to hold several meetings with both the federal government and the union at different occasions. This seems to be yielding a positive result as earlier this week, the union, after a meeting with the Speaker, announced via it’s Twitter handle that it had seen light at the end of the tunnel.
This raised hopes of millions of Nigerian students as there were high expectations of schools’ resumption soon.
ASUU has however called for an Emergency National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting scheduled to begin late on the night of Thursday and rollover into the Early hours of Friday.
Members are expected to vote for or against school’s resumption afterwhich the union will announce it’s decision Friday morning.
This comes on the heels of the Speaker, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila’s intervention on the matter and the Unions’ bid to respond to the 7-days ultimatum given it by the Appellate Court to suspend the ongoing strike on or before October 17.
Meanwhile, Radiojagaban also gathered that branches of the Union will begin consultations Wednesday over a possibility of calling off the ongoing strike.
Recall that counsel to the union, Femi Falana, SAN had in an interview earlier this week, told newsmen that the strike would be called off soon. He however didn’t give much details on the development.
READ>> ASUU set to announce decision on Strike today
