Court gavel
National Industrial Court of Nigeria has directed the Federal Government to formally register the National Association of Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities (NANTS) as a trade union, bringing to an end a legal dispute over the group’s recognition.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, the court held that the government and the Registrar of Trade Unions were obligated under the law to register the association and issue it a certificate of registration.
The suit was instituted by university workers through Comrade Niyi Akinnibi, who sought a court order compelling the authorities to recognize NANTS as a trade union under the provisions of the Trade Unions Act.
Named as defendants in the case were the Registrar of Trade Unions, the Minister of Labour and Employment, and the Attorney General of the Federation.
Justice Obaseki-Osaghae ruled that the refusal of the relevant government agencies to register the association was unjustified and contrary to the provisions of the law.
Part of the judgment reads: “A declaration is hereby made that the defendants are bound to register the claimant’s National Association of Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities as a trade union under the Trade Unions Act.
“A declaration is hereby made that the refusal of the first and second defendants to register the claimant’s National Association of Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities as a trade union under the Trade Unions Act is wrongful.
“A mandatory order is hereby made directing the first and second defendants to register forthwith and/or issue the claimant forthwith with the certificate of registration of the National Association of Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities as a trade union under the Trade Unions Act.
“An order of perpetual injunction is hereby made restraining the defendants, their agents, privies, assigns, or any other person or authority deriving authority from them from denying the claimant registration as a trade union under the Trade Unions Act.”
The court also granted a perpetual injunction preventing the defendants and their representatives from taking any action that would hinder the registration of the association.
NANTS was formed by university workers who reportedly exited the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) in pursuit of a separate platform to represent the interests of non-teaching staff in Nigerian universities.
The association is said to have established branches in both federal and state-owned universities across the country and has been seeking official recognition as a registered trade union.
