National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja on Monday restrained organised labour from embarking on planned strike action scheduled to commenced on Wednesday.
In a suit filed by the federal government , Attorney General of the Federation against the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, the court ordered the unions to stop any industrial action pending the hearing and determination of a motion on Notice dated 5th June, 2023.
It could be recalled that the Nigeria Labour Congress and its affiliate unions have been mobilising to embark on a nationwide strike from Wednesday , June 7th, 2023 over the fuel subsidy removal.
Although the federal government called for a meeting to address the deadlock in the previous meeting with the labour union but NLC insisted that there would be no discussion with the federal government again except it revert back to the old pump price of petrol before May 29th.
While the Trade Union Congress tabled some demands before the federal government at their meeting on Sunday noting that failure to meet the demands , it would call out its members for strike
The learned counsel, of the applicants, Maimuna Lami Shiru pointed out that the proposed strike action is capable of disrupting economic activities, health sector and the educational sector.
Barrister Shiru tendered exhibits FGN 1,2 and 3 as notices from the 1st defendant the Nigeria Union of Journalists respectively to their members to withdraw their services with effect from Wednesday 7th June ,2023.
The counsel pointed out that the students of secondary schools nationwide especially those writing WAEC exams will be affected , the tertiary institutions who have just recently resumed after a long ASUU strike will also be affected, not leaving the health sector, among other sectors, and above all the economy of the nation.
‘’In my view, this is a situation of extreme urgency that will require the intervention of the court,’’ the counsel pleaded.
On Monday, the presiding judge, Justice Olufunke .Y. Anuwe said having considered the totality of this application warranted granting the order.
The judge ordered that the leave granted the applicants by the court to effect service of the interim order with the motion on Notice, Originating Summons, on the defendants be pasted on the wall or entrance of the last known addresses of the defendants at Plot 829/821 Labour House Central Business District Abuja and No. 47, Yakubu Gowon Cresent Asokoro District Abuja respectively.
Culled from SOLACEBASE
