The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has thrown its weight behind the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
In a directive issued by ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke, a professor of soil science, members were instructed to comply with the industrial action.
News About Nigeria gathered that the NLC had earlier announced the commencement of the strike from midnight on Monday, November 13.
The decision to embark on the nationwide strike was fueled by the brutalisation of the NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, on November 1 in Imo State.
“As an affiliate of NLC, all members of our union are hereby directed to join this action of NLC to protect the interest of Nigerian workers and the leadership of the union. Zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons should immediately mobilize our members to participate in the action,” wrote President Osodeke in the letter to ASUU zonal coordinators and branch chairpersons across the country.
However, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, on Friday, restrained the labour unions from embarking on the strike.
The judge, Benedict Kanyip, ordered the two major labour unions, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), to stop their industrial action scheduled to commence on November 14.
This interim order was granted following an ex-parte request by the Nigerian government through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice in response to the Labour unions’ threat to embark on the strike.
On Monday, the AGF’s office advised the unions against the strike, emphasising the need to respect the subsisting court order.
The AGF reminded the NLC and the TUC that there was an existing court order stopping the unions and their affiliates from embarking on the strike.
The interim order was granted on November 10 by the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice B. B. Kanyip.
