VCs Urged to Re-open Universities,  Resume Academic Activities

The Federal Government, through the National Universities Commission, have ordered vice-chancellors to re-open universities and resume academic activities.

“Ensure that ASUU members immediately resume/commence lectures; Restore the daily activities and routines of the various University campuses”, NUC Director, Finance and Accounts, Sam Onazi, said in a letter on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the commission, Abubakar Rasheed.

The letter was sent to all vice-chancellors, pro chancellors, and governing council chairs of federal universities.

Since February 14, 2022, when members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities began taking industrial action due to subpar welfare benefits and certain unpaid entitlements, public universities around the nation have been closed.

Last week, the National Industrial Court (NIC) Abuja ordered the teachers to end their seven-month strike and return to the classrooms. Still, ASUU later filed an appeal against the decision.

Femi Falana, the attorney for ASUU, based the appeal on 14 reasons.

The motion asks for two reliefs, namely:

A) The leave to file the appeal pursuant to Section 243 of the Constitution that requires the party to seek a leave of court to appeal the judgement or ruling of the National Industrial Court (NIC).

B) Seeking for a stay of execution of the court’s orders, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

Recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been ordered by the National Industrial Court to end its current strike.

Justice Polycarp Hamman issued a ruling on the interlocutory injunction requested by the Federal government, preventing ASUU from carrying out the strike until the lawsuit’s outcome.