A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted an interim order restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, from going on strike from Wednesday as planned, until the determination of the motion on notice.
Justice O. Y. Anuwe issued the order on Monday and adjourned further hearing till 19 June.
Justice O. Y. Anuwe of the court, in his ruling, barred the two organisations from proceeding with the strike pending the determination of a suit brought before it by the federal government.
The court held that the interim order, as well as the substantive suit, should be immediately served on the two labour unions that were defendants/respondents in the suit marked: NICN/ABJ/158/2023.The court, however, fixed the matter for hearing on June 19.
The order followed an ex-parte application that the federal government filed through the ministry of justice.
The counsel to the federal government, Mrs. Maimuna Lami Shiru, who brought the application, maintained that the proposed strike was capable of disrupting economic activities, the health sector and the educational sector.
The court, in its ruling, held that it was empowered by section 7(b) of the NIC Act, 2006, with the exclusive jurisdiction in matters relating to the grant of any order to restrain any person or body from taking part in any strike, lockout or any industrial action.
It held that sections 16 and 19(a) of the NIC Act 2006 also empowered it to grant urgent interim reliefs.
The court held that the affidavit of urgency as well as the submission of the FG’s lawyer revealed: “a scenario that may gravely affect the larger society and the well-being of the nation at large”.
“Counsel has pointed out that students of secondary schools nationwide, especially those writing WAEC exams nationwide, will be affected; the tertiary institutions who have only just resumed after a long ASUU strike will also be affected, not leaving the health sector, amongst 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 this court,” Justice Anuwe held. “Having, therefore, considered the totality of this application, I make the following orders:
“The defendants/respondents are hereby restrained from embarking on the planned industrial action/or strike of any nature, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated 5th June, 2023.
“It is ordered that the defendant/ respondents be immediately served with the originating processes in this suit, the motion on notice and the order of this court hereby made.”
DAILY GIST reported that NLC had on Friday announced plan to shut down the country’s economic activities following the removal of fuel subsidy and increment in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit.
The NLC writes all its 43 affiliate unions to mobilise for a scheduled industrial action primed to begin on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
The strike follows the increment in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as Petrol.
