The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja has ordered the Federal Government and the Registrar of Trade Unions to register the newly formed National Association of Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities (NANTS) as a recognised trade union.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, directed the defendants to register NANTS under the Trade Union Act, following a suit filed by the association seeking legal recognition.
The case, marked NICN/ABJ/345/2023, was filed by the varsity workers through Comrade Niyi Akinnibi against the Registrar of Trade Unions, the Minister of Labour and Employment, and the Attorney General of the Federation.
The claimant had approached the court seeking an order compelling the government to register the National Association of Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities as a trade union.
In its ruling, the court held that the refusal by the first and second defendants to register the association was wrongful and ordered that NANTS be granted official recognition under the Trade Unions Act.
The court also restrained the defendants, their agents, representatives or any authority acting on their behalf from denying the association registration as a trade union.
The judgment stated, “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 Union Act.”
It added, “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.”
The court further issued a mandatory order directing the relevant authorities to immediately register the association and issue it a certificate of registration.
“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 claimant registration as a trade union under the Trade Unions Act.”
The ruling provides legal recognition for NANTS to operate as a trade union representing non-teaching staff members in Nigerian universities, following the association’s efforts to secure formal status within the country’s labour structure.
