The Federal Government on Monday, reminded the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) of a subsisting court order stopping the unions and their affiliates from embarking on the strike.
The interim order was granted on November 10 by the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice B. B. Kanyip.
According to a statement made available to newsmen on Monday by the Special Assistant Communication and Publicity to the AGF and Minister of Justice, Kamarudeen Ogundele, the unions have been served the court order and, therefore, must surrender themselves to the authority of the court which is already seized with the facts of the case.
The statement said any action taken contrary to the order will be tantamount to contempt of court.
The statement stated “We use this medium to urge the unions to respect the court order and adhere to the principle of the rule of law. There is no need to resort to self-help.
“We urge workers to report for duties and not to entertain any fear as their safety is guaranteed and will be protected within the ambit of law,” it added.
It would be recalled that the National Industrial Court (NIC) had, last week restrained the NLC, TUC, as well as their affiliates from embarking on any form of strike or industrial action.
The two major labour unions were on Friday evening ordered to stop their nationwide strike action scheduled to commence on November 14, 2023.
President of the Court, Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip issued the restraining order following an ex-parte application to that effect brought before the Court by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
Justice Kanyip invoked Sections 17 and 19 of the National Industrial Court Act to issue the restraining order against labour.
The Federal Government and the AGF through their lawyer, Tijani Gazali (SAN) had, in the ex-parte application prayed to the court to stop the planned strike action so as to stop untold hardships that would be inflicted on innocent law abiding citizens and their businesses.
Gazali, who is the Director of Civil Appeals in the Federal Ministry of Justice, while arguing the ex-parte application, drew the attention of Justice Kanyip to a series of hardships suffered by Nigerians on Thursday alone when the labour unions blocked entrances to the main Airports in the country.
He pleaded that, unless the planned strike action is stopped, there may be a likelihood of a breach of peace and tranquillity in the country.
The Judge who was persuaded by the Federal Government’s arguments in a short ruling said, it is within the power of the court to intervene by way of a restraining order to ensure peace and tranquillity and proceeded to grant all the requests of the federal government as contained in the motion paper.
Besides, Justice Kanyip directed that the restraining order be pasted on the wall of the Labour House, which is the last known address of the two defendants to draw their attention to the court’s position.
The Judge also directed that the order, along with the originating and other processes be served on the defendants by publication in two major national dailies.
Meanwhile, the case file has been transferred to Justice Olufunke Yemi Anuwe who was said to be handling similar labour dispute-related matters between the two same parties.
Justice Anuwe, the President of the Court said, would issue a hearing notice to the parties at the appropriate time.
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