Court orders FG to register NANTS as new varsity workers’ union

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has mandated the Federal Government and the Registrar of Trade Unions to officially register the National Association of Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities (NANTS) as a legitimate trade union. The court's decision, delivered by Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, declared the previous refusal to register NANTS as wrongful.

The ruling mandates the defendants, the Registrar of Trade Unions, the Minister of Labour and Employment, and the Attorney General of the Federation, to promptly issue a certificate of registration to NANTS. The court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their agents from denying NANTS registration under the Trade Unions Act.

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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.

NANTS was formed by university workers who separated from the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities. The new association has established branches in federal and state universities throughout Nigeria. The court's intervention came after NANTS filed a suit, number NICN/ABJ/345/2023, seeking an order to compel the government to recognize their association as a trade union.

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A mandatory order is hereby made directing the first and second defendants to register forthwith and or to 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.