Could this be the end of the ASUU strike?
A few days ago, The National Industrial Court ordered ASUU to call off their nationwide strike action. This is pending the determination of the lawsuit filed against them by the Federal government. The judge that ruled on the federal government’s application restrained ASUU from continuing with the strike. He ordered that the case file be returned to the president of the industrial court and reassigned to another judge.
He stated that the strike is detrimental to public university students who cannot afford to attend private tertiary institutions. The Trade Dispute Act mandates workers not to embark on strike once an issue has been referred to the industrial court. ASUU has since rejected the ruling of the industrial court and vowed to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
Today, the Federal Government through the National Universities Commission has ordered Vice-chancellors to re-open schools and allow students to resume lectures. This order was specified in a letter signed by the Director, Finance and Accounts of the NUC, Sam Onazi, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the commission, Professor Abubakar Rasheed. The letter was addressed to all Vice-chancellors, Pro-chancellors, and chairmen of governing councils of federal universities.
It is left to be seen if the order of the federal government will be followed by those addressed in the letter. However, according to the National President of ASUU, the universities were not shut down by them and going back to work is not an option.
#STATEAFFAIRS is a segment that gives you a quick rundown of various political and state issues as they happen in the most simple, subtle language. In this edition, we are looking at the Federal Government’s order for universities to be reopened.
