The Academic Staff Union of Universities, which is currently on strike, will appeal the National Industrial Court’s decision ordering its members to return to work on Friday (today), The PUNCH has learned.Information Guide Nigeria
This information was provided in a chat with our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday by the attorney for ASUU, Femi Falana (SAN).
Since February 14, ASUU has been on strike to force through its demands, which include more financing for institutions and a review of lecturer wages, among other things.
On Wednesday, Justice Polycarp Hamman issued a return to work order for the union’s members.
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But Falana told The PUNCH that, “We are filing the appeal tomorrow (Friday) morning. We just got the certified true copy of the judgment on Thursday. The appeal will be filed first thing Friday morning.”
While reacting to the court order asking ASUU to go back to class, the CVCNU chairman, Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo, said, “The matter is not a court issue. A lecturing job is not one you force people to do because it is a knowledge-based job.
“The best is to mutually understand one another. If, as a student, you go to the class now and you are not given knowledge, what will be the outcome? We are pleading that ASUU, FG, and other stakeholders should come together and dialogue and settle it.”
Ikechukwu Igwenyi, the ASUU chairman of Ebonyi State University, declared “war” against union members on Thursday in response to the court judgement.
In doing so, he emphasised how the government’s “no work, no pay” policy demonstrates how little the authorities comprehend the nature of the employment relationship that exists between lecturers and their students.
“The NIC ordered ASUU to call off the ongoing strike and return to the classroom with empty stomachs and unpaid bills pending the determination of the suit filed against the union by the Federal Government,” he said in Abakaliki, on Thursday.JAMB Result
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