The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, Friday, ordered members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to resume work with immediate effect.

The appellate court gave the order in a ruling on an application by the ASUU seeking permission for it to appeal against the order of the National Industrial Court which asked the striking lecturers to resume duty.

The industrial court had on September 22, granted an interlocutory order following an application to that effect by the Federal Government, ordering university lecturers to return to work pending the resolution of their dispute with government.

Miffed by the ruling, ASUU through its counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, headed to the appellate court to seek redress.

At the Appeal Court, ASUU filed an application dated September 28, seeking the leave of court to file an appeal against the industrial court order.

But in its ruling, the Court of Appeal which granted ASUU "conditional leave to appeal the order of the Industrial Court" insisted that ASUU must obey the order of the lower court with effect from today, October 7.

The 3-man panel led by Justice Hamman Barka, said for ASUU to file its notice of appeal within 7 days, it must show evidence that its members have resumed work October 7.

"Failure to adhere to the order, will make the appeal incompetent before  Court of Appeal", the panel unanimously held.

Details later...