Strike: ASUU Reacts To Court Ruling Ordering Lecturers Back To Class.
Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, on Wednesday revealed that the union’s leadership will meet to discuss the ruling of the National Industrial Court.
Choc News earlier reported how the court ordered the immediate reopening of universities after seven months of the strike by the university lecturers’ union, ASUU.
Justice Polycarp Hamman had ruled, stopping ASUU from continuing with the strike until the case was resolved.
Osodoke, while reacting to the ruling, told Vanguard, “When we meet and deliberate on the ruling and other related issues, we will inform you,”
Speaking to Channels Television, when asked about the way forward, Osodoke said, “When we hear from our legal department, we will continue,”
Speaking further, he said,
“Are we happy with the state of our universities? Why are those who have money taking their children away from Nigerian universities and taking them abroad? That is the question we should ask…will this judgment solve the issue for which we are striking,” Osodoke queried.
“The students for whom you said you are protecting, they said they don’t want it,” he said referring to some reactions from students to the court order asking lecturers to go back to class.
According to the professor, one student wrote, “How can you bring my lecturer, who you have denied salary for eight months to come and teach me”
“Every person has a right to appeal. The judgment of the National Industrial Court is not final,” Osodoke said.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, president, Comrade Usman Barambu, National President of NANS, on Wednesday said the Nigerian Government should not see the judgment as a victory over ASUU.
He said, “It is a win-win situation for all, the government, the students, parents, and ASUU. It is not that the court has given the government a kind of victory over ASUU or that the government has boxed ASUU to a corner.
“As students, we are happy about the development as it is a sort of progress being made regarding how to resolve the face-off.
“We implore the government to meet the demands of ASUU, as the court said negotiation will continue while the matter is being heard before the court. Also, the government should not because of the fact that the matter is still before the court takes the issue of negotiation with ASUU with levity. It is still a running matter.
“As students, we are happy that academic activities may soon resume in our university campuses.”
Also, the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, has reacted to the development. Speaking National President, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, the body said the government and the union should obey the court’s verdict.
“Since it is a court of competent jurisdiction that gave the ruling, there is no way it should not be binding on the parties involved. Already, everybody involved seems to be tired of the endless strike. The situation is heading to a dangerous dimension as students are beginning to protest and block roads all over the country.
“As parents, we are already becoming afraid that the protests could be hijacked by hoodlums and the unexpected happening. Now, there is hope that our children may go back to school soon. But our advice for the government is that they should do the needful regarding their obligations to the union members, the students, the university system, and education sector as a whole,” he stated.
Source | Choc News
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