Posted by The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been instructed by the federal government to end its seven-month strike and abide by the decision of the National Industrial Court.
In response to inquiries from reporters on the sidelines of the 77th UNGA and the official launch of the Nigeria Integrated National Financing Framework Report, Minister of Labor and Employment Senator Chris Ngige offered the advice (NIFF).
ASUU was ordered by the industrial court on Wednesday to cease its continuing nationwide strike while the Federal Government's lawsuit is being adjudicated.
In an effort to put an end to the strike, the federal administration had taken the professors to court.
I'm not a member of ASUU, but the law states that after you have complied with a court decision or verdict, you must then appeal it if you wish or request for a stay of execution, which is when we can file an application.
“Accordingly, the most important rule of law, jurisprudence, and everything related to the law is that you must always obey a court's decision, judgment, or order. No matter how awful it is or how much you disagree with it, you must first follow. Obedience comes before complaint, as they say in the military.
“So, while we anticipate their returning to the classrooms, this doesn't exclude negotiations; in fact, they will continue both formally and informally.
As an illustration, the House of Representatives had invited us to brief them in person. They are stakeholders as a group. You may have heard Mr. President tell the committee of pro-chancellors that he would consult as per their requests in order to put the cherry on top of the government's offer to ASUU members and the subject of a resettlement fund to lessen the impact of their “no job, no pay” scenario.
“So, the President will take a look at it. The House of Representatives are stakeholders. Ministers, we are not only stakeholders; we also serve as the President's chief advisers in accordance with Section 5 of the Constitution and Article 147, which names a minister from each state in the Federation. We also hold regular meetings with the President.
As a result, Ngige added, “we will communicate with the House of Representatives and all of us will advise Mr. President.”