By John Ugo
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has filed a suit at the Appeal Court sittiing in Abuja asking it to set aside the judgment of the National Industrial Court, (NIC), that ordered it to call off the over seven-month-old strike.
Members of the union, in a 14-grounds of appeal filed through their team of lawyers led by human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana, (SAN), applied for a stay of execution of the judgment.
The National Industrial Court had in its judgment last Wednesday and delivered by Justice Polycarp Hamman, ordered the striking lecturers to return to the classroom, pending the determination of a suit the Federal Government filed to query the legality of their strike action.
The court in the interim injunction had directed ASUU members to resume work following an application the FG filed through its lawyer, Mr James Igwe.
Justine Hamman held that the order was both in the national interest and for the sake of undergraduates in the country that have been at home since February 14.
The judge held that the strike action was detrimental to public university students who cannot afford to attend private tertiary institutions.
“The balance of convenience tilts in favour of the applicant. I hold that this application is meritorious and this application is granted”, Justice Hamman said.