• Login
  • Register
Nairametrics
  • Home
  • Exclusives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate Stories
    • Interviews
    • Investigations
    • Metrics
    • Economy
    • Nairalytics
  • Markets
    • Currencies
    • Cryptos
    • Commodities
    • Equities
      • Company Results
      • Dividends
      • Stock Market
    • Fixed Income
    • Market Views
    • Securities
  • Sectors
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Company News
    • Consumer Goods
    • Corporate Updates
    • Corporate deals
    • Corporate Press Releases
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Health
    • Hospitality & Travel
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate and Construction
    • Renewables & Sustainability
    • Tech News
  • Business News
    • Budget
    • Public Debt
    • Funds Management
    • Tax
  • Financial Literacy
    • Career tips
    • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Billionaire Watch
    • Profiles
  • Opinions
    • Blurb
    • Op-Eds
    • Research Analysis
  • Recapitalization
    • Access Holdings Offer
    • Fidelity Bank Offer
    • GTCO Offer
    • Zenith Bank Offer
  • Home
  • Exclusives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate Stories
    • Interviews
    • Investigations
    • Metrics
    • Economy
    • Nairalytics
  • Markets
    • Currencies
    • Cryptos
    • Commodities
    • Equities
      • Company Results
      • Dividends
      • Stock Market
    • Fixed Income
    • Market Views
    • Securities
  • Sectors
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Company News
    • Consumer Goods
    • Corporate Updates
    • Corporate deals
    • Corporate Press Releases
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Health
    • Hospitality & Travel
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate and Construction
    • Renewables & Sustainability
    • Tech News
  • Business News
    • Budget
    • Public Debt
    • Funds Management
    • Tax
  • Financial Literacy
    • Career tips
    • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Billionaire Watch
    • Profiles
  • Opinions
    • Blurb
    • Op-Eds
    • Research Analysis
  • Recapitalization
    • Access Holdings Offer
    • Fidelity Bank Offer
    • GTCO Offer
    • Zenith Bank Offer
Nairametrics
No Result
View All Result
Home Business News

After the court ruling about the ASUU case

Op-Ed Contributor by Op-Ed Contributor
September 22, 2022
in Business News
ASUU set to drag FG to court
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin

Yesterday, I wrote about the powers of the National Industrial Courts in determining the legality of strike actions by trade Unions. Today, the court ordered a trade Union to suspend a strike and resume work.

I have read many comments about the ruling of the National Industrial Court on the ASUU case. The court has given an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) “ by themselves, members, agents, servants, privies or howsoever called from taking further steps and doing any act or otherwise continuing with the indefinite strike or any strike action pending the hearing and determination of the suit/referral to this Honourable Court dated 8th September 2022 made at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Employment as a matter of national interest pursuant to his powers under Section 17 of the Trade Disputes Act.”

I think many people should be aware of the plethora of laws in Labour relations in Nigeria. The Trade Disputes Act, for example, is a very cardinal law on the issue of Union actions.

RelatedStories

FG inaugurates 25-member committee to establish Nigerian Education Data Initiative 

FG releases N50 billion to settle earned allowances for ASUU, other university staff 

April 23, 2025
ASUU,

ASUU raises concerns over surge in first-class graduates from private universities 

November 29, 2024

Section 18 of the Trade Disputes Act provides as follows:

“18 (1) An employer shall not declare or take part in a lock-out and a worker shall not take part in a strike in connection with any trade dispute where-

(a) the procedure specified in section 4 or 6 of this Act has not been complied with in relation to the dispute; or

(b) a conciliator has been appointed under section 8 of this Act for the purpose of effecting a settlement of the dispute; or

© the dispute has been referred for settlement to the Industrial Arbitration Panel under section 9 of this Act; or

(d) an award by an arbitration tribunal has become binding under section 13(3) of this Act; or

(e) the dispute has subsequently been referred to the National Industrial Court under section 14(1) or 17 of this Act; or

(f) the National Industrial Court has issued an award on the reference.”

The Federal Government was wise enough to bring this Application against ASUU under this law. This section binds both the employer and the employee and limits their actions once there is strike action. Section 18(2) of the Trade Disputes Act criminalises any contravention of section 18(1) by imposing a fine of N 100 or imprisonment of six months for an individual or a fine of N 1,000 for a body corporate.

So where do we go from here?

  1. ASUU must obey this order or appeal against it. But would an appeal lead to any different decision? I don’t think so. Perhaps the court of appeal may even demand obedience before hearing the appeal. Remember, the case was based on the powers of the Minister under Section 17 of the Trade Disputes Act and national interest. Which judge will say continuing a 7-month-old strike is in the public interest? ASUU and its members have had a lot of favourable judgements from this court. Obeying this ‘negative decision’ will show their commitment to the rule of law. Obeying court orders is the right thing to do.
  2. The government should also consider how quickly it can resolve the issue with our Higher institutions, the Unions, including ASUU and the education ecosystem. Our universities are not in the best shape, and we need to act urgently. I believe the government should withdraw from direct interactions with the Unions and allow the Councils to take the lead. The councils as employers of labour should urgently act to improve the working conditions of staff. We must alleviate the conditions of our universities and the stakeholders. Many university councils have been ineffective in their duty and have refused to take decisive actions to take the Universities to higher heights.
  3. The court ruling does not stop further negotiation and consultations. The negotiations should continue, and the House of Representatives, led by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, should continue with their promise to meet the President about the issue.
  4. The Court has to ensure an accelerated hearing of the matter. This will be in the interest of the case, the universities and the court itself. The court has an opportunity to demonstrate that it dispatches cases faster than other courts in Nigeria.

This case isn’t concluded. So, it’s not a final victory for the government. ASUU could still go to court to enforce their Collective agreement. I have always argued that this is what ASUU should have done since this strike started. But they didn’t, and the government got to court before them. Let me end with an adaptation of the saying, “na who first go court go first get better hearing.“


Abayomi Fawehinmi is passionate about excellence in leadership, Human Development, Education and Nation building. Tweets: @yomitheprof


Follow us for Breaking News and Market Intelligence.
Tags: ASUU
Op-Ed Contributor

Op-Ed Contributor

Nairametrics frequently publishes articles from experts such as financial analysts, economists, researchers and investors. We also feature articles from guest writers and bloggers who wish to push their views and opinions through our platform. To get your articles on Nairametrics, kindly send an email to info@nairametrics.com and we will publish it within 24 hours of approval by our editorial team.

Related Posts

FG inaugurates 25-member committee to establish Nigerian Education Data Initiative 
Education

FG releases N50 billion to settle earned allowances for ASUU, other university staff 

April 23, 2025
ASUU,
Education

ASUU raises concerns over surge in first-class graduates from private universities 

November 29, 2024
ASUU,
Education

FG, ASUU in closed door meeting to avert strike action

June 26, 2024
ASUU strike: Tinubu grants waiver, orders payment of 4 months withheld lecturers’ salaries
Education

ASUU rejects non-reconstitution of governing councils in public universities

May 15, 2024
ASUU,
Education

ASUU rejects FG’s N35,000 wage award, insists on negotiated salary for members

May 9, 2024
Nigerian university inaugurates first vaccine centre in Enugu to combat endemic diseases
Health

Nigerian university inaugurates first vaccine centre in Enugu to combat endemic diseases

May 8, 2024
Next Post
NGX closes positive with market capitalisation up by N533 billion

Nigerian Exchange closes negative as market cap dips by N125 billion  

Comments 1

  1. Omooba says:
    September 24, 2022 at 9:35 am

    Thank you so much for this exposé. However, I will like to point out that it may be easy to force a horse to the river but it will not be easy to force it to drink. Forcing aggrieved lecturers back to class, they will comply without teaching the students.
    University lecturers are grossly underpaid in this country. Imagine a first class or second class upper graduate picking up academic job and been paid 95k per month, or a Professor of over 23 years in service taking home less than 420k per month. In this time and age, no graduate in the sciences or applied sciences with a very good class of degree will take such a job when there are opportunities outside the country for graduate program that will be more fulfilling and financially more rewarding

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Emple
nlng
first bank








DUNS

Recent News

  • Williams Fatayo exits as CEO of Nigerian startup truQ over leadership dispute
  • NDLEA arrests drug kingpin, intercepts 722,875 opioid pills, cocaine in Lagos
  • Climate change threatens global data centres, may cause billions in damages—Report  

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

Williams Fatayo exits as CEO of Nigerian startup truQ over leadership dispute

Williams Fatayo exits as CEO of Nigerian startup truQ over leadership dispute

July 13, 2025
NDLEA arrests drug kingpin, intercepts 722,875 opioid pills, cocaine in Lagos

NDLEA arrests drug kingpin, intercepts 722,875 opioid pills, cocaine in Lagos

July 13, 2025
  • iOS App
  • Android App
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Markets
  • Sectors
  • Economy
  • Business News
  • Financial Literacy
  • Disclaimer
  • Ads Disclaimer
  • Copyright Infringement

© 2025 Nairametrics

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Social Media Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Exclusives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate Stories
    • Interviews
    • Investigations
    • Metrics
    • Economy
    • Nairalytics
  • Markets
    • Currencies
    • Cryptos
    • Commodities
    • Equities
      • Company Results
      • Dividends
      • Stock Market
    • Fixed Income
    • Market Views
    • Securities
  • Sectors
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Company News
    • Consumer Goods
    • Corporate Updates
    • Corporate deals
    • Corporate Press Releases
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Health
    • Hospitality & Travel
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate and Construction
    • Renewables & Sustainability
    • Tech News
  • Business News
    • Budget
    • Public Debt
    • Funds Management
    • Tax
  • Financial Literacy
    • Career tips
    • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Billionaire Watch
    • Profiles
  • Opinions
    • Blurb
    • Op-Eds
    • Research Analysis
  • Recapitalization
    • Access Holdings Offer
    • Fidelity Bank Offer
    • GTCO Offer
    • Zenith Bank Offer
  • Login
  • Sign Up

© 2025 Nairametrics