Court Adjourns FG’s Suit Against ASUU To September 16
Justice P.I. Hamman of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has on Monday recessed the suit filed by the Federal Government against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to September 16, 2022.
Nexus News recalls that the Federal Government is disputing the ongoing strike by ASUU.
The Federal Government seeks an order of the court for ASUU members to continue work in their various universities while the issues in dispute are being dealt with by the NICN in consonance with the provisions of Section 18 (I) (b) of the TDA Cap T8. LFN 2004.
When the case came up for mention on Monday, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) brought an application seeking to be joined in the legal action as an interested party.
Speaking to Justice Hamman, Counsel for SERAP, Ebun- Olu Adegnoruwa said his client had filed a similar suit, appealing to the court to oblige the Federal Government to honour its 2009 agreement with members of ASUU.
“We filed a similar suit on September 8, asking the court to compel the Federal Government to honour an agreement it willingly entered into with ASUU,” Adegboruwa said.
SERAP’s joinder application, Adegboruwa said, was to forestall duplicity of judicial pronouncements concerning the industrial dispute.
In reaction, the Federal Government’s lawyer, Tijjani Gazali (SAN), defied SERAP’s application to consolidate the suits.
He argued that SERAP’s application was “premature” as the case was slated for mention on Monday.
On his part, Femi Falana (SAN), who represented ASUU, said he was aware of efforts by the lawyers to file court papers in the suit on Monday.
In a short ruling on the SERAP’s joinder application, Justice Hamman agreed with the Federal Government that the suit was not ripe for consolidation.
