The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has delivered a significant ruling in favor of the Lagos State University branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU-LASU). The court’s Lagos Division has barred the ASUU National Executive Council (ASUU-NEC) from interfering with the academic and professional rights of ASUU-LASU members.
This judgment was announced during a press conference held by ASUU-LASU at Lagos State University’s main campus in Ojo on January 23, 2025. The conference paper, signed by the ASUU-LASU Executive Committee, detailed the court’s decision and was attended by key branch officials, including Chairman I.A.O Bakare and Vice Chairman B. Babatope.
The case, filed as suit no. NICN/318/2020, revolved around ASUU-NEC’s 2020 resolution to restrict ASUU-LASU members from participating in sabbatical leaves, external assessments, conferences, workshops, and other professional activities. Justice S.A. Yelwa, in a judgment delivered on September 30, 2024, declared ASUU-NEC’s actions unlawful, null, and void.
Quoting the court’s decision, Justice Yelwa stated, “In the whole assessment of this case, I find that the case of the claimants (The Bakare-led Exco) as constituted in the originating summons is meritorious and flowing from this, the reliefs of the claimants succeed.”
The conflict began when ASUU-NEC, during a meeting held on March 7-8, 2020, in Enugu, decided to bar ASUU-LASU members from engaging in key academic collaborations, citing internal disputes within the ASUU-LASU leadership. Viewing this as an infringement on their members’ rights, ASUU-LASU’s leadership sought judicial intervention.
In its ruling, the court made the following declarations:
- ASUU-NEC’s decision to restrict ASUU-LASU members from professional collaborations is illegal and a violation of their academic freedom.
- The ASUU Constitution does not grant ASUU-NEC or its President the authority to impose such restrictions on a branch.
- The resolution adopted by ASUU-NEC in March 2020 is ultra vires and unenforceable.
The court further emphasized the fundamental rights of ASUU-LASU members, stating that they have the autonomy to elect their executives and pursue individual educational objectives without interference. Justice Yelwa’s ruling included perpetual injunctions restraining ASUU-NEC, its agents, and proxies from meddling in the affairs of ASUU-LASU.
This judgment marks a pivotal moment for ASUU-LASU, reaffirming the principles of academic freedom and institutional autonomy. It also sets a precedent for protecting the rights of university staff across Nigeria.
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