The National Industrial Court has fixed Wednesday, 21 to rule on an appeal by the federal government seeking the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to resume work while awaiting the decision of the court on their ongoing strike.
The Court on Monday began hearing on an application by the federal government seeking that the University lecturers resume work.
After the principal attorney for the federal government, Mr. James Igwe, argued his plea for a court order preventing ASUU from extending the statewide strike, Justice Polycarp Hamman set the date.
He also, ruled against a preliminary objection by ASUU noting that the Court is meant to hear the application by the government.
The judge set aside the application by ASUU through its counsel, Femi Falana, opposing to the Court’s hearing of the Federal Government’s application.
The Court further noted that the preliminary objection was not yet ripe for hearing, adding that the rule of the Court has provision to hear both the preliminary objection alongside the main suit.
James Igwe argued that Section 18(1)E of the Trade Disputes Act provides that employees cannot be on strike when a matter is before the Industrial Court.
The federal government had approached the court to challenge the ongoing industrial action by the university lecturers.
