The National Association of Nigerian Students, South-West Zone, on Monday, said it would commence protests on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (Sagamu Interchange) over the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
According to the association, the protest was organised as a result of the lingering ASUU strike.
The association’s position was contained in a statement by its coordinator, Adegboye Olatunji.
“Since the inception of this administration, we have seen how meagre sum is allocated to the educational sector. It is based on the foregoing that we declare a protest against the prolonged ASUU strike which has ultimately affected the progress of Nigerian students for the past six months. And, we also pass a vote of no confidence on the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige, and Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.
“The protest shall be held till the strike action is resolved. Convergence point: Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (Sagamu Interchange).”
Meanwhile, the National Industrial Court may assign the case between the Federal Government and the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities to another judge.
A source, who spoke to newsmen on Monday, noted that the judge who presided over the case on Monday, Polycap Hamman, is a vacation judge.
“Justice Polycap Hamman is a vacation judge, the case will be reassigned to another judge for adjudication,” the source who was present at the court told our correspondent in Abuja.
In another development, the case, which was filed by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has been adjourned till Friday.
The Federal Government had asked the court to order ASUU to call off its seven months strike.
When the matter slated for mention came up on Monday, human rights activist and lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), informed the court that he was representing Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project and that he had filed a suit on the same subject matter before the same court.
He also stated that in the suit NICN/ABJ/269/2022, SERAP is the claimant with the Federal Government as the defendant.
He, therefore, applied that the extant suit be consolidated and SERAP be joined in the suit as a defendant, instead of multiple suits on the same matter before the same court.
Counsel for the claimant, Mr T.A Gazali (SAN), in response said the application, adding that there was no need for SERAP to pray to be joined in a suit orally in a matter that did not have its name on the cause list.
ASUU’s counsel, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), urged the court to step down the matter to enable both lawyers to file their papers and then return at a later date after he would have responded to the claimant’s process.
The judge adjourned the matter till Friday for further mention.
He also ruled that SERAP’s application to be joined in the suit was premature.
Punch/Titilayo Kupoliyi
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