The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), sitting in Abuja has adjourned the suit filed by the Federal Government challenging the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to press home its demands on welfare and others.
When the matter was called for mention, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), filed an application seeking to join the suit as an interested party.
Counsel To SERAP, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, said his client had filed a similar suit asking the court to compel the federal government to honour its 2009 agreement with the striking varsity lecturers.
But the counsel to Federal Government, Tijjani Gazali, opposed Adegboruwa’s application, saying that it was not ripped for hearing. In a short ruling the presiding judge justice Hamman agreed with the Federal Government that the suit was not ripe for consolidation.
He thereafter ordered parties in the suit to file and exchange court documents and adjourned the case till 16 September for hearing.
The federal government through its counsel approached the court to compel ASUU to call off its industrial action after negotiations between the parties broke down.
