Court Aligns With FG, Bars NLC, TUC From Embarking On Nationwide Strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC, as well as their affiliates, have been restrained from embarking on any form of strike or industrial action.

The National Industrial Court, on Friday, ordered the two labour unions to stop their planned nationwide strike scheduled to commence on November 14.

The restraining order was issued by the President of the Court, Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip, 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 the organised labour.

The applicants through their lawyer, Tijani Gazali had in the ex-parte application prayed the court to stop the planned strike.

They said this was to avert untold hardships that would be inflicted on innocent law-abiding citizens and their businesses.

While arguing the ex-parte application, Gazali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Director of Civil Appeals in the Federal Ministry of Justice, drew the attention of Justice Kanyip to series of hardships suffered by Nigerians on Thursday alone when the labour unions blocked entrances to the main Airports in the country.

He said there may be a likelihood of breach of peace in the country unless the planned strike is stopped.

The Judge, who was persuaded by the government’s arguments, said that it is within the power of the court to intervene by way of a restraining order to ensure peace and tranquillity.

He 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 building at 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 by publication in two major national dailies.

Meanwhile, the case file has been transferred to Justice Olufunke Anuwe who is said to be handling similar labour dispute-related matters.