Seems like the friendly dialogue between the Nigerian government and the Academic staff union of Universities have failed totally, as the Federal Government has dragged the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to the National Industrial Court over the union’s 7-month ongoing strike.
According to a statement released by the Head of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun. The action taken by the federal government to resolve the strike has taken another dimension, since proper dialogue has resolve nothing.
SEE THIS: Female Student Shares Her Before and After PICS of What ASUU Has Done
The Ministry said the Federal Government took the decision after dialogue with ASUU failed.
According to a statement addressed to the Registrar of Industrial Court, which was sent on the 8th of September 2022, and signed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, the federal government asked the National Industrial Court to order ASUU members to resume work, while the issues in dispute should be addressed by the court.
It says;
“Please find attached three (3) original copies of a referral instrument regarding the trade dispute between the Nigerian Federal government (FG) /federal ministry of education and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for adjudication by the national industrial court of Nigeria.
“The referral instrument is raised in fine with powers vested on the honourable minister of labour and employment by trade dispute resolution mechanisms and the provision of Section 17 of the Trade Dispute Act. CAP. T8 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004.
“This is due to the fact that members of the above mentioned union, ASUU have been on strike since February 14th, 2222 and have refused to call off the action despite apprehension of same, it would be appreciated if this dispute is given an accelerated hearing in order to bring the dispute to an end and return students to their classroom.”
The case is scheduled for mention at 9 am on Monday, September 12, and the Federal Government is asking the court to determine whether the strike taken by members of the striking union, ASUU is legal or not.
Other requests made by the federal government include asking the court to interpret in its entirety, the provisions of Section 18 LFN 2004, especially as it applies to the cessation of the strike once a trade dispute is apprehended by the Minister of Labour and Employment and conciliation is ongoing.
The Federal Government ask requests that the court determine the extent of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) demand since the 2020 Memorandum of Action (MOA) that the union signed with the federal government of Nigeria.
The demands that have pushed the union to strike for 7-month and counting includes:
- Funding for revitalisation of public universities as per the 2009 agreement,
- Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) payments,
- State universities’ proliferation,
- Constitution of visitation panels,
- Release of a white paper on the report of the visitation panels.
Others are the reconstitution of the government renegotiation team for renegotiation of the 2009 agreement, which was renegotiated in 2013/2014, due for renegotiation in 2018/2019 and the migration of ASUU members from IPPIS to its own UTAS, which is currently on test at NITDA.
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