The Federal Government dragged the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to the National Industrial Court (NIC).
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).”
Meanwhile, as the deadline for the 2022 admissions by the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board comes to a close, universities with outstanding admissions will work towards a merger.
JAMB during the 2022 policy meeting held in Abuja fixed the deadline of December 31, 2022, for the conduct of the 2022/2023 admissions.
Stakeholders at the meeting had cited the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU as a determining factor.
JAMB noted that majority of the universities suspended admission processes due to incessant strikes.
The Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Prof Yakubu Ochefu, confirmed that the admissions will be merged.
(PUNCH/THE NATION)
