Strike: Lawyer sues FG, ASUU

By The Citizen

Following the lingering universities' teachers' strike that has kept students at home for over three months, a lawyer, Daniel Onwe has approached a Federal High Court, Lagos to compel the Academic Staff Union of Universities to resume work.

Joint in the suit with ASUU is the Federal Government, which Onwe stated was responsible for the strike action.

In a motion on notice brought pursuant to Section 46(1)(2) of the 1999 Constitution, and dated September 30, Onwe prayed for an order of court to compel ASUU to call off the strike it embarked upon to protest the unwillingness of government to implement certain aspects of the agreement both parties signed in 2009.

Supported by a 15 paragraph affidavit, the lawyer wants the court to declare that the indefinite strike embarked upon by ASUU, leading to the closure of government owned universities for three months, violates the fundamental rights of the students affected.

He averred that the strike has traumatised many students who now engage in various vices.

Onwe argued that the plight of the affected students had gotten worse as their contemporaries in private universities continue to attend lectures while they remain idle at home.

He urged the court to compel ASUU to resume work while negotiations with the Federal Government continue.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.