Strike: Court hears ASUU’s appeal today

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja will on Tuesday (today) hear the appeal of the Academic Staff Union of Universities against the ruling by the National Industrial Court, The PUNCH has learnt.

This is as negotiations and talks have continued between the House of Representatives, led by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the union.

The PUNCH had reported that the Gbajabiamila-led delegation would meet with the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) today.

A source familiar with the matter made this known in a chat with our correspondent on Sunday.

“The court will hear the appeal on Tuesday,” the source said in a text message sent to our correspondent.

Our correspondent could not immediately get a response to inquiries sent to ASUU counsel, Femi Falana, as he had yet to reply to texts sent to his telephone line.

ASUU filed 14 grounds for appeal on September 23, 2026, against the ruling of Justice Hamman Polycarp of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, which ordered the striking lecturers to return to work pending the determination of a suit the Federal Government filed to query the legality of their strike.

The interim injunction directing ASUU members to resume work followed an application the Federal Government filed through its lawyer, Mr James Igwe.

Justice Polycarp held that the order was both in the national interest and for the sake of undergraduates in the country who had been at home since February 14. He held that the strike action was detrimental to public university students who couldn’t afford to attend private tertiary institutions.

However, ASUU, in its appeal, maintained that Justice Polycarp “erred in law and occasioned a miscarriage of justice when he decided to hear and determine the respondents’ motion for an interlocutory injunction when he knew or ought to have known that the substantive suit was not initiated by due process of law.”

ASUU further told the appellate court that it showed “uncontroverted and irrefutable evidence” that the Federal Government waited for about seven months before approaching the NIC for the order of interlocutory injunction.”

The union insisted that by sections 17 and 18 of the TDA, the NIC could only entertain appeals arising from the decision of the Industrial Arbitration Panel, IAP, concerning issues arising from trade disputes.

ASUU said it was totally “dissatisfied with the decision” of the trial court, which it said should not only be stayed from being executed, but also set aside in its entirety.”

Strike: Court Hears ASUU’s Appeal Today – FAQs

Why is the court hearing ASUU’s appeal?
The hearing is part of the ongoing legal proceedings involving the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the issues surrounding the university lecturers’ strike.

What is ASUU asking the court to decide?
The appeal seeks a judicial determination on the issues in dispute, which could influence ASUU’s position and the next steps regarding the strike.

Will the court hearing automatically end the ASUU strike?
Not necessarily. The outcome of the court proceedings and any subsequent decisions by ASUU or the relevant authorities will determine what happens next.

Will Nigerian universities remain affected by the strike?
Students should await official announcements from ASUU, the Federal Government, and their individual universities regarding academic activities and any possible disruption.

What should students do while waiting for the court’s decision?
Students are advised to remain calm, monitor verified updates from ASUU and their universities, and avoid relying on unconfirmed information circulating on social media.