FG asks NLC, TUC to obey court order – Please suspend strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (TUC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have been urged by the federal government to postpone their intended statewide strike.

According to Channels TV, earlier in the day, both unions issued a nationwide appeal for workers to stop working at midnight due to their impasse with the Imo State government.

However, Special Assistant to the AGF for Communication and Publicity and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, Kamarudeen Ogundele, reminded the unions of a court order that prevents them from going on strike in a statement late yesterday.

The statement said, “We wish to remind the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress that the unions and their affiliates are prohibited from going on strike by an existing court order.”

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria’s President, Justice B. B. Kanyip, issued the temporary ruling on November 10.

The unions must submit to the court’s authority, which has already been granted access to the case’s facts, since they have been served with the court order. Any behaviour against the directive would be considered contempt of court.

Thus, in order to “respect the court order and adhere to the principle of the rule of law,” the federal government called on the unions. Self-help is not necessary in this situation.

“We implore employees to report for duty without holding back, as their safety is ensured and will be safeguarded within the bounds of the law.”

Labour’s action came after an attack in Imo State on NLC National President Joe Ajaero. The labour leader was in the state to participate in a protest against “other labour rights violations and non-payment of salaries and pensions for 44 months.”

However, the NLC claimed that thugs and police officers dispatched by the Imo State government brutalised him. Following the attack, they pickedeted the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja last week to stress their demands that the personnel engaged in the incident quit.