It now appears that Nigerian students would have to stay much longer at home as the lingering dispute between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) will shift to the Industrial Court on Monday, September 12, 2022.
It should be recalled that ASUU had embarked on a strike action since February 14, 2022, to protest the alleged decay of infrastructure at the various institutions, as well as neglect of the welfare of its members, among other issues.
A reliable source at the Federal Ministry of Labour told THISDAY that the Ministry’s Trade Dispute Department had filed a case before the Industrial Arbitration Court in Abuja and that the hearing would commence on Monday, September 12, 2022.
According to the source, “The federal government has filed a case at the Industrial Court challenging the continued strike by the university teachers. This is in conformity with Section 17 of the Trade Dispute Act.”
There have been negotiations between the Federal Government and the ASUU leadership but all ended in stalemates without a tangible outcome.
It should be noted that the Federal Government had declared that it would not sign any other agreement it could not implement.
Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, had disclosed this during a meeting of Pro-Chancellors and Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities, held at the NUC’s office.
