*We are reviewing court’s verdict to decide next action – Lecturers
The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its ongoing strike with immediate effect.
The appellate court also held that ASUU should obey the order of the National Industrial Court which directed the suspension of the strike before seeking to appeal the judgment.
ASUU has been on strike since February 14 to press home its demand for improved funding for universities, a review of salaries for lecturers, among other issues.
After several meetings to resolve the strike ended inconclusively, the Federal Government proceeded to the National Industrial Court to challenge the action.
In its ruling delivered on September 21, the National Industrial Court granted the Federal Government’s application for an interlocutory injunction to restrain ASUU from continuing with the strike pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, ASUU approached the Court of Appeal, seeking the leave to challenge the lower court’s decision.
The Court of Appeal , on Wednesday, asked the parties to explore the option of an out-of-court settlement.
But when the matter came up on Thursday, both parties agreed to proceed with the hearing after failing to reach a settlement.
Delivering its ruling, a three-member panel of the appellate court granted ASUU’s “conditional leave” to appeal the National Industrial Court’s decision.
The three-man panel, led by Justice Hamman Barka said for ASUU to file its notice of appeal within seven days, it must show evidence that its members have resumed work immediately.
The appellate court further held that failure to adhere to the order will make the appeal incompetent before the Court of Appeal.
Meanwhile, ASUU has reacted to the appellate court’s decision, saying that it would review the verdict of the Court of Appeal in order to determine its next line of action.
Speaking on the matter, ASUU President, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, said, ” The union is yet to officially receive the Appeal Court ruling.
According to him, the union will after receiving the verdict, go through the document with their lawyers and decide on its next line of action.
He said, “We have not received the ruling, when we get it, we will review it with our lawyers and then we can take the next step”.
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