February 02, (THEWILL) — The National Industrial Court has issued an interim order restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), from proceeding with their planned protest scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, in Abuja.
Justice Emmanuel Sibilim granted the order on Monday while ruling on an ex parte application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
The court restrained the 1st to 5th respondents, their agents, privies, or affiliates from embarking on any strike or protest action pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The judge also directed the 5th to 9th defendants, comprising security agencies, to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order within the Federal Capital Territory.
The ex parte motion, argued by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, James Onojon, on behalf of the Minister and the FCTA, informed the court that the Chairman of the FCT Council had circulated a mobilisation message calling on union members and affiliated bodies to participate in a mass protest slated for February 3. The applicant contended that the planned action violated an earlier order of the court.
According to the application, following the court’s ruling on January 27, the order was duly served on the defendants the same day. However, despite being served, the NLC and TUC were said to have issued a joint statement to their affiliated unions, directing them to intensify and sustain the ongoing strike action.
The statement, jointly signed by the leadership of both labour centres, reportedly instructed striking workers to continue the action, citing the decision of their counsel, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, to file an appeal against the interlocutory ruling of the court.
Subsequently, the Joint Union Action Committee also issued a circular directing all employees to continue the strike, a move the applicants argued was capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in the nation’s capital.
Justice Sibilim, after considering the submissions, granted the interim reliefs and adjourned the matter until February 10 for the hearing of the motion on notice.
THEWILL had earlier reported that the leadership of the NLC had fixed Tuesday, February 3, for a solidarity rally in Abuja alongside members of the TUC and JUAC at the Secretariat of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). Labour said the rally was intended to publicly affirm it’s long-held principle that “an injury to one is an injury to all”, insisting that organised labour would not abandon its members.
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