Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) yesterday filed a lawsuit against the federal government over what he called a discriminatory, unfair and illegal treatment of members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The suit, before a Federal High Court in Abuja, joins the Minister of Labour and Employment, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Accountant-General of the Federation as defendants.
Falana is asking the court to determine “Whether having paid the salaries of members of the Joint Staff Union, National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and lecturers in the medical facilities/medical and dental academic of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State during the period of industrial action, the decision to withhold the salaries of the members of ASUU from February to October 2022 is not discriminatory and illegal.”
Falana is also asking the court to determine “Whether the members of ASUU are not entitled to payment of their salaries for the months of February to October 2022 forthwith.”
Falana said the failure of the federal government to address the demands of ASUU forced the industrial dispute to last until October 2022.
He said the teaching component of our job was restored based on the orders of the high court and the Court of Appeal.
