The National Association of Nigerian Students Northeast Zone has asked the leadership of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU to obey the judgement of the National Industrial Court asking it to suspend its seven-month-old strike.
Justice Polycarp Hamman in a judgment delivered on the case between the Federal Government and ASUU ordered ASUU members to return to classrooms immediately, arguing that the strike caused devastation to the academic pursuit of Nigerian students in public universities in the country.
Femi Falana (SAN), counsel to ASUU, said they will file an appeal against the judgment after getting the certified true copy of the National Industrial court’s judgment.
WikkiTimes learned that committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities faulted Federal Government’s handling of the crisis with ASUU, arguing that the matter should not have been taken to court in the first place.
Read: Just In: Court Orders ASUU To End Seven-Month-Old Strike
“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,” Professor Samuel Edoumeikumo, Chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities said.
However, Alhassan Adams, Coordinator NANS Northeast Zone in a press conference in Bauchi on Friday said it is high time for ASUU leadership to obey the court order and return to their classes to enable students to continue having access to university education.
“The Judgement is a WIN WIN to Nigerian Students.
Read: ‘We Are Still On Strike’ — IBBU-ASUU Debunks Resumption Plan By Management
“The leadership of Nigerian Students (NANS) deem very necessary to call on the ASUU to please respect the judgement of the court with good faith so that our students can return back to classes after seven months of deadbeat staying at home,” he said.
The Coordinator said while ASUU can appeal the judgment but it should, however, resume work and allow the appeal to continue.
He added, “At the same time, we are calling on the federal government to also pay them their allowances so that to enable them to settle their debt and other expenses.”
