A prominent member of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has told FIJ that the union will not be suspending its strike action immediately.

On condition of anonymity, the source said the union’s leadership will be meeting to discuss the ruling of Justice Polycarp Hamman, a vacation judge who on Wednesday ordered ASUU to refrain from continuing the strike action.

The source said, “We know the ruling, but we cannot take an action or decision immediately. We are too organised for that. The union’s leadership will meet to discuss and decide what steps to take, and we will tell you.”

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When FIJ asked if the union will appeal the ruling, the source maintained that the decision will be made during the meeting but was unable to confirm when this meeting will be held.

FIJ contacted Femi Falana, counsel for ASUU in the matter before the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), but he asked that we send him a text message. At press time, he had not responded to the message.

Festus Ogun, a legal practitioner, explained to FIJ that the union reserved the right to request a stay of execution on the ruling and file an appeal before the Court of Appeal.

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FIJ earlier reported how Hamman restrained “ASUU, whether by themselves, members, agents, privies or howsoever called, from taking further steps and doing any act in continuance of the strike action pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed”.

The union has been on strike since February 14, marking the second longest consecutive strike action by the union in Nigeria’s democratic history, dwarfed only by the nine-month strike action embarked upon in 2020.