By Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu
KANO, Nigeria (AA) – An appeals court has directed Nigerian universities lecturers to end their six-month strike and go back to the classrooms.
The court sitting in the capital Abuja dismissed a request by the Academic Staffs Union of Universities to stay an order to return to work.
Leading a three-judge panel, Hamman Barka directed the university lecturers to go back to classrooms before appealing the ruling, which will go into effect.
The appeals court gave the union seven days’ notice to file an appeal if the universities across the country reopen.
On Sept. 21, the National Industrial Court ordered the union to call off the strike.
On strike since Feb. 14, lecturers have demanded better funding for universities and a review of salaries for lecturers, among other issues.
After several meetings to resolve the strike ended inconclusively, the federal government proceeded to the national industrial court to challenge the walkout.