Again, ASUU Files Appeal Against Industrial Court Judgement

The Academic Staff Union of Universities has gone to court again.

The union has again filed an appeal seeking the nullification of the judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria which ruled that the lecturers must return to the classroom.

Justice Hamman Polycarp of the National Industrial Court on September 21 ordered the striking lecturers to call off their strike and return to work.

ASUU had stated that the National Industrial Court lacks evidence to back its ruling that Nigerian students would lose several life-saving opportunities due to age increment caused by the current seven months’ strike action.

The union made this known in the court documents filed before the Court of Appeal to challenge the ruling of the National Industrial Court which ordered them to end the lingering strike and resume classes.

“The point being made is that, even where the lost academic semesters/sessions are covered upon resumption, the increase in the age of these students who are being deprived of the opportunity to complete their studies as and when due cannot be reversed. Section 2 (2) of the National Youth Service Corps Act for example prohibits any person who is over the age of thirty (30) at the date of graduation from being enlisted into the Service Corps,” the National Industrial court said among other things while delivering its interlocutory judgement.

The court which also noted that it would not hear ASUU’s appeal should the union fail to obey the ruling of the lower court, on October 7, ordered the striking lecturers to resume work with immediate effect.

However, the counsel for ASUU, Femi Falana, SAN while speaking with some journalists in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on Saturday, said that the fresh appeal was filed the same day the suspension of the prolonged industrial action was announced.

"The appeal was filed on October 14, 2022. However, no date for hearing yet,” he said.