The Court of Appeal in Abuja is set to hear the appeal by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) against the September 21 judgment of the National Industrial Court, which ordered the university lecturers to suspend their strike action
Chief Counsel for ASUU, Mister Femi Falala (SAN) and Mister James Igwe (SAN), Chief Counsel for the Federal Government are all in court.
ASUU has been on strike since February 14.
In August, the union declared a “total and indefinite” extension of its industrial action, pointing out that the government had failed to meet its demands satisfactorily.
Among other things, the academics seek improved welfare, revival of public universities and academic autonomy.
One bone of contention for the academics is the non-payment of university revitalization funds, which amount to about N1.1 trillion.
But the federal government said it did not have the money to pay such an amount, citing low oil prices during the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
More to follow…
