Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria has ordered the Federal Government and the Registrar of Trade Unions to register the National Association of Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities (NANTS) as a trade union.
Delivering judgment, the court held that the refusal of the authorities to register NANTS was wrongful and directed that the union be granted registration in accordance with the provisions of the Trade Unions Act.
The suit was instituted by university workers through Comrade Niyi Akinnibi, who sought an order compelling the government to recognise and register NANTS as a trade union.
The defendants in the case were the Registrar of Trade Unions, the Minister of Labour and Employment, and the Attorney General of the Federation.
In its ruling, the court declared that the defendants were legally obligated to register NANTS and issue the union with a certificate of registration without further delay.
Justice Obaseki-Osaghae also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, or any person acting on their behalf from denying the association recognition and registration under the Trade Unions Act.
Part of the judgment read: “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 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 further ordered that the defendants and their representatives be permanently restrained from taking any action that could hinder the registration of the union.
NANTS was formed by university workers who broke away from the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU). The association is reported to have established branches in several federal and state-owned universities across the country.
