The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has refused to comment on the decision of the Federal Government to drag the union to the National Industrial Court(NIC).
President of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, refused to pick calls or reply to messages sent to his phone on Sunday.
Parties involved in the suit are expected to appear before the NiC on Monday, September 12, 2022.
In a letter addressed to the NiC by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, the government appealed to the court to give the dispute an accelerated hearing in order to bring it to an end.
The letter was confirmed by Ngige on Sunday to The Nation.
“We have referred (the dispute to the NiC) and all parties FGN/ FMEd/HAGF/ASUU have been served for appearance and hearing at NiCN for 9am tomorrow Monday,” Ngige said in a short message.
The letter by the Minister which was obtained by The Nation reads: ” Please find attached three (3) original copies of a Referral Instrument regarding the trade dispute between the Federal Government of Nigeria /Federal Ministry of Education and The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for adjudication by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).
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