Public university students in Nigeria claim that everything is prepared to suspend operations at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in the federal capital territory (FCT), Abuja. At Muritala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), traffic was blocked for several hours. The protestors, organised under the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) banner, blocked the route to the airport with government and private vehicles.
The gathering of the students was countless, and they demanded an immediate end to the strike, which has now entered seven months and urged the Nigerian government to agree with teachers’ requests on strike so that they may return to class.
On the busy route, the students could be seen singing and dancing while causing traffic jams. According to sources, armed police officers tried to threaten the students in an apparent attempt to suppress the protest but failed.
Court orders ASUU to end strike
Government attorney James Igwe asked the court to stop ASUU from continuing its strike. He claimed that the lawsuit was brought in the nation’s interest and the strike caused irreparable harm to the country and the students of Nigeria.
Employees are prohibited from going on strike while a case is pending in the industrial court. Femi Falana, an attorney for ASUU, argued against the application, calling it wrong and shameful to force the union to start working.
He claimed that no strike would have been necessary if the applicants had attached to the multiple agreements and MOUs established in the past. Additionally, he said that because the strike had already lasted seven months, there was no need for the injunction. Judge Polycarp Hamman decided on the application on Wednesday and approved the request.
the court prohibited ASUU from taking further measures and doing any strike action. Additionally, the judge declined to punish the federal government as the ASUU had requested.
