The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been ordered by Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, to abide by the National Industrial Court (NIC) ruling and end its current statewide strike while negotiations are taking place.
Ngige made this statement in response to a query from a journalist in New York on Friday regarding the ruling by the industrial court that prevented ASUU from continuing the strike.
He noted that the Trade Dispute Act forbids workers from going on strike once a matter has been referred to the industrial court and claimed that the strike is harmful to public university students who cannot afford to attend private tertiary institutions.
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.
On Friday, ASUU filed an appeal over the ruling. The counsel to ASUU, Mister Femi Falana, based their appeal on 14 grounds. The motion is seeking two 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.