Amidst the protracted industrial action which was embarked upon by university teachers, the National Industrial Court yesterday reserved September 19 to deliver a ruling on Federal Government’s prayer praying the court to order the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its seven months strike.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the matter which was initially mentioned on Monday was adjourned until Friday for further mention before Justice Polycarp Hamman.
When the matter came up for hearing, Mr. J.U.K Igwe SAN informed the court that going by its directive on Monday that the claimant should file its process latest by Tuesday, that they had filed two processes.
He added that the first one was a motion on notice dated and filed Monday for an interlocutory injunction.
Igwe further asserted that the claimant also filed on the same date an affidavit of facts in support of the referral sent by the Minister of Labour and Employment.
He also averred that some questions were raised with a full complement of a written address.
Read Also: ASUU Strike: Catholic Bishops Berates FG, Call For Solutions
He also submitted that the defendant had been served with proof of service before the court.
The counsel said that however, as at the time the court was sitting, he had not received any response from ASUU.
Igwe proceeded to urge the court to take the applications as it was ripe to be taken, stating that the matter is of national interest and urgent as millions of students have been at home since Feb. 14.
Mr Femi Falana, SAN, counsel to ASUU in response acknowledged receiving the process from the claimant and stated that they were already filing their reply in the court’s registry.
Falana added that the Minister of Labour and Employment lacked the power to ask the court in his referral to order the defendant to go back to work.
He also informed the court that ASUU would be meeting stakeholders in the House of Representatives on Sept. 20 to ensure that the matter is resolved.