Strike: FG Drags ASUU to Court Over Failed Negotiations

The Federal government of Nigeria through the Minister Of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has dragged the striking academic lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to the National Industrial Court Of Nigeria, Abuja over the ongoing strike of the union since February.

[keypoints]

• Hope for Nigerian students as FG drags ASUU to industrial court over failed negotiations.
• FG promised that N150billion shall be giving to the striking lecturers in 2023 budget

[/keypoints]

The Minister Ngige, in a leaked letter written to the Chief Registrar of the court, dated September 8, 2022, alleged the refusal of ASUU to call off its strike which began February 14, 2022, and thereby, asked the court to accelerate hearing on the matter in order to bring the dispute between the union and the government to an end.

This came up, few days after the federal government announced pay rise for the University lecturers, and promised that N150 billion shall be provided for in the 2023 Budget as funds for the revitalisation of federal universities, which is to be disbursed to the Institutions in the First Quarter of the year.

The letter was titled, ‘Forwarding of a Referral Instrument in the Trade Dispute Between the FG/Federal Ministry of Education and ASUU.’

It partly read, [quotation]“Please find attached three original copies of a Referral Instrument regarding the trade dispute between the FG /Federal Ministry of Education and ASUU for adjudication by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

“The Referral Instrument is raised in fine with powers vested in the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment by trade dispute resolution mechanisms and the provision of Section 17 of the Trade Dispute Act. CAP. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“In view of the fact that ASUU members have been on strike since February 14, 2022, and have refused to call off the action, it would be appreciated if this dispute is given an accelerated hearing in order to bring the dispute to an end.” [/quotation]