APPEAL COURT ORDERS ASUU TO CALL OFF STRIKE

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has granted the application for leave to appeal filed by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The leave so granted allows ASUU to formally challenge the interlocutory order issued by the National Industrial Court, directing its members to resume work pending the determination of the substantive suit filed by the Federal Government against the strike embarked upon by ASUU.

In a ruling on Friday, a three-member panel of the court, led by Justice Hamma Barka ordered the striking lecturers to "immediately" call off its eight-months strike.

The court struck out ASUU's request for stay of execution of the Industrial Court's order, which it's lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) withdrew on Thursday.

The appellate court said should ASUU fail to re-open the universities, the order to appeal against the interlocutory injunction of the National Industrial Court "will be automatically vacated."

It gave the lecturers' union seven days within which to file its notice of appeal against the order of the the National Industrial Court.