Court Orders FG to Register NANTS as New Workers’ Union

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja, has ordered the Federal Government and the Registrar of Trade Unions to officially register a newly formed association for university staff, the National Association of Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities (NANTS), as a recognized trade union.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, the court ruled that the government’s initial refusal to register the association was unlawful. The court issued a mandatory order directing authorities to immediately issue NANTS its certificate of registration under the Trade Unions Act.

The legal battle, designated as suit number NICN/ABJ/345/2023, was initiated by the university workers through Comrade Niyi Akinnibi. The lawsuit named the Registrar of Trade Unions, the Minister of Labour and Employment, and the Attorney General of the Federation as defendants.

Justice Obaseki-Osaghae also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the government and its agents from denying the association its legal status or obstructing its registration moving forward.

“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 order stated.

NANTS was formed by university workers who broke away from the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU). The new breakaway union has already established branches across various state and federal universities throughout Nigeria.