Strike Anxieties, despair as FG, ASUU resume legal battle. The legal pyrotechnics in the action brought by the Federal Government against the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, start today, Monday, and Nigerians, especially university students and their parents, are waiting with bated breath.
According to DAILY POST, the Federal Government sued the National Industrial Court and asked the judge to issue an order compelling the academics to return to work.
However, the Court postponed the case today, September 19, in order to hear the Federal Government’s interlocutory application.
As the DAILY POST has previously reported, some contentious issues that sparked the union’s strike include the failure to release revitalization funds, earned academic allowances, renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement, the publication of a white paper on visitation panels, the failure to pay arrears on the minimum wage, and the inconsistent use of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, or IPPIS.
According to DAILY POST, the FG took the decision to file a lawsuit in response to what it called ASUU’s stubborn and obstinate stance toward the proposals it had given to the union.
The matter had already been postponed twice by the court. The first was planned for September 16, but when it came time for the issue to be heard on that day, the court once again postponed it to September 19.
The delay, according to Justice Polycap Hamman, was made so that both parties could file the required court documents. James Igwe, the attorney for FG, had earlier requested the court to expedite the case’s hearing since it was crucial that the pupils get back to school.
Igwe informed the court that since the case was already before the court, it would be appropriate to halt the strike while the lawsuit was being adjudicated.
The grass suffers when two elephants fight, as is often believed. Both the pupils and their parents or guardians have been affected by this action in this case.
The majority of the respondents who talked to DAILY POST voiced their displeasure of the FG’s move, echoing the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria’s criticism of the FG’s decision to file a lawsuit.
Mrs. Grace Ozazuwa, a widow who just lost her position at one of the first generation banks after sixteen years of employment, claimed that all she had ever wanted was to see her two children graduate from high school and attend college, but she feels as though her dream is fading fast.
She bemoaned the mental illness her girls were suffering from.
“I don’t anticipate anything good to come out of it; it’s just the government buying time with a delay strategy since it can’t satisfy the unions’ demands, in my opinion. I don’t think there’s any hope we can move forward from here. “My daughter has been waiting to return to school as a first-year student for more than seven months, but it appears that she may still have to wait another year.
She remarked, “Bearing the weight of a failing administration that cares less about its citizens is just too much for her.”
Entrepreneur Dr. Samson Ugwoke was unable to contain his rage for the government.
He ascribed responsibility for the educational issue on the government. According to him, the decision might not result in the union’s industrial action coming to an end.
“Your guess is as good as mine if you look at the way this administration has handled education.
“If I had the authority to advise the government, I wouldn’t have endorsed the plan to sue ASUU. Nothing will change, in my opinion. They could even refuse to follow the court’s ruling if it is in their favor, he added.
Calistus Onyeka, a cab driver at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka, Enugu State, spoke to the DAILY POST and questioned why the government should go to court when it disobeys court decisions.
“Permit me to ask: Does the administration follow the court’s ruling? Not at all. Why then do we fool ourselves?
“You see, you cannot give away something you do not own. It would have been a different situation if the administration had been one that complied with court orders. But as he pointed out, we have a government that chooses what it loves and doesn’t like.
When DAILY POST asked a senior lecturer at the University of Abuja, who asked that his name not be used, for his opinion, he showed no signs of giving up the fight despite the government’s unpaid backlog of salary.
Rather than give up now, he would want to see it through.
He declared, “I believe that taking us to court was a mistake from the beginning. It is a matter that could be resolved out of traditional court. However, if they had believed differently, we would have nothing to say other than to observe them and await their arrival in court.
“Government should be aware that ASUU has advanced much in this conflict. We will be able to determine what to do next after we reach the bridge. At this point, speculating is unnecessary. We’ll wait for the court to decide before moving further.
“I believe I am not concerned. All academics are unconcerned, with the exception of those who are unaware of the nature of the fight. Our conflict is sincere.
There have been rumors that the government may seek a settlement outside of court after President Muhammadu Buhari was advised by the committee of pro-chancellors to modify his stance on some of the divisive issues impeding the resolution of the problem.
He still hasn’t decided to what degree he would give in to their demand.
