In anticipation of the outcome of a lawsuit brought by the Federal Government, the National Industrial Court on Wednesday ordered the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to cease its continuing statewide strike.

The government chose to sue the union in an effort to end the strike amid the uproar caused by the labor dispute, which has lasted for more than seven months.

It submitted a request for an interlocutory injunction in an effort to get the court to issue a ruling prohibiting ASUU from extending the strike.

Justice Polycarp Hamman issued a decision on the government’s application, stopping ASUU from continuing its strike and ordering that the case file be sent back to the president of the Industrial Court for reassignment to another judge because he is on vacation.

He claims that since the Trade Dispute Act forbids workers from going on strike after a matter has been referred to the industrial court, the strike will harm public university students who cannot afford to attend private tertiary schools.

The court’s judgment was applauded by the government, while ASUU disagreed and threatened to appeal the decision.

Below, you may read more about Justice Polycarp Hamman’s decision: