Court Orders FG to Register New University Workers’ Union Amid Final Negotiations

The National Industrial Court has ordered the Federal Government to register the National Association of Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities (NANTS) as a trade union, a development coming as university workers conclude negotiations with the government over the implementation of the 2009 agreement.

Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, in a judgment delivered in Abuja, directed the Registrar of Trade Unions and relevant government authorities to immediately register NANTS and issue it a certificate of registration under the Trade Unions Act.

The court also restrained the government and its agents from denying the association recognition as a trade union.

The suit, marked NICN/ABJ/345/2023, was instituted by NANTS through Comrade Niyi Akinnibi against the Registrar of Trade Unions, the Minister of Labour and Employment, and the Attorney General of the Federation.

In the judgment, the court declared that the defendants were bound by law to register NANTS and held that their refusal to do so was wrongful.

“A mandatory order is hereby made directing the first and second defendants to register forthwith and issue the claimant 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,” the court ruled.

The court further granted a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, privies, assigns or any authority acting on their behalf from denying the association registration.

The judgment comes at a crucial period for university-based unions, as discussions between the Federal Government and non-teaching staff unions on outstanding aspects of the 2009 FG-university unions agreement are said to be at an advanced stage.

NANTS was formed by members who pulled out of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), with the new body reportedly establishing branches in federal and state universities across the country.

Observers say the court ruling could reshape labour representation in the university system and influence future engagements between the government and non-teaching staff, particularly on issues relating to welfare, salaries and implementation of negotiated agreements.

The Federal Government had yet to formally react to the judgment as of the time of filing this report.