The National Industrial Court in Abuja 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 prolonged dispute over the association’s legal recognition.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, the court ordered the Registrar of Trade Unions, the Minister of Labour and Employment, and the Attorney General of the Federation to immediately register the union and issue it with a certificate in accordance with the Trade Unions Act.
The ruling followed a suit instituted by university workers under case number NICN/ABJ/345/2023 through Comrade Niyi Akinnibi. The court held that the refusal by the relevant government authorities to register NANTS was wrongful and declared that the association was entitled to full recognition.
The judgment is expected to provide non-teaching staff in Nigerian universities with an independent platform through which to advance their welfare and protect their industrial interests.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Obaseki-Osaghae issued a mandatory order compelling the Registrar of Trade Unions, the Minister of Labour and Employment, and the Attorney General of the Federation to register NANTS as a trade union under the provisions of the Trade Unions Act.
The court also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Government, its agents, representatives, and assigns from denying the association recognition or registration as a trade union.
The claimants had approached the court seeking an order directing the government to register the National Association of Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities as a trade union.
In the judgment, Justice Obaseki-Osaghae faulted the actions of the Registrar of Trade Unions and the Minister of Labourand Employment for refusing to register the association despite its application.
The judge declared that the relevant government authorities were under a legal obligation to register NANTS as a trade union in line with the Trade Unions Act.
According to the judgment, “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 ordered the 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.”
Justice Obaseki-Osaghae also restrained the defendants, their agents, assigns, and any authority acting on their behalf from taking any action that would prevent the association from being registered as a trade union.
With the ruling, NANTS is poised to join the ranks of recognised unions within Nigeria’s university system, providing non-teaching employees with a distinct platform to champion their welfare, representation, and broader industrial concerns.
