The National
Industrial Court, NIC, Abuja has placed a restraining order on the strike
action of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC,
which was to begin tomorrow reports ITRealms.
The labour
unions, had vowed to embark on a nationwide industrial action should the
federal government refuse to reverse the sudden hike in the price of fuel from
N85.50 to N145.
In a
ruling on Tuesday, the NIC President, Justice BabatundeAdejumo, restrained the
labour unions from going on strike, pending the determination of a suit the
federal government lodged before it. Justice Adejumo further ordered all the
parties to maintain status quo until the legal dispute is settled.
The order
followed an ex-parte application that was filed by the Attorney General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, AbubakarMalami, in a determination to abort
the planned strike.
The AGF had
approached the NIC, begging it to restrain the labour unions from “shutting
down the nation”. Placing reliance on section 14 of the 1999 Constitution, as
amended, FG, insisted that it would not be “in the national interest” for the
NLC and TUC to proceed on nationwide strike over the fuel price increase.”
The AGF
argued that no amount of damages could serve as compensation if the labour
unions are allowed to shut down the economy. Contending that the balance of
convenience was in favour of the government, the AGF, prayed the court to
determine “Whether the respondents (NLC, Trade Union Congress) have complied
with the laid down condition precedent for embarking on strike”, as well as,
“Whether indeed there exist in law and in fact the basis of which the
respondents’ total closure of the economy can be justified”.
He said
the respondents, aside threatening to shut down the country if government
failed to reverse the fuel price increase, equally threatened to close down all
government offices, seaport, airports and markets. Arguing that ordinary and
law abiding citizens would be subjected to hardship if the respondents were
allowed to go ahead with their threat,he added that the government was left
with no alternative but to seek the intervention of the court.
ITRealms
also gathered that neither NLC nor TUC was represented in court, Justice
Adejumo granted the ex-parte motion, even as he ordered the service of all the
relevant court processes on the respondents. The restraining order against the
respondents will elapse after seven days.
Okoli Vincent/Vanguard/GEE
Okoli Vincent/Vanguard/GEE
ITREALMS ... everything news digitally!
No comments:
Post a Comment