*Lead counsel to the Federal Government asks the court to give the suit an accelerated hearing due to the urgency of the matter to enable students to return to schools

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

The National Industrial Court has fixed Wednesday, September 21 to rule on the application for an interlocutory injunction filed by the Federal Government against the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

It was learnt Justice Peter Hamman fixed the date Monday, September 19 2022, after Mr. James Igwe, lead counsel to the Federal Government, had argued his application seeking an order of the court restraining ASUU from further continuing with the ongoing nationwide strike.

President Muhammadu Buhari聽

Recall the government had approached the court to challenge the ongoing industrial action by the University lecturers.

However, at the previous sitting, the court recently adjourned the suit until September 19, to hear the interlocutory injunction of the government.

Igwe had asked the court to give the suit an accelerated hearing due to the urgency of the matter to enable students to return to schools.

According to the counsel, since the matter is already in court, it would be proper for the strike to be called off, pending the determination of the suit.

Mr. Femi Falana, human rights lawyer and counsel to ASUU, nonetheless, said the academic union was currently meeting with stakeholders to ensure that the matter was resolved and appealed to the government to cooperate with the union to resolve the issue.