The National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued a restraining order against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and their affiliates, prohibiting them from engaging in any strike or industrial action.
The decision to restrain the unions comes after an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday in Abuja, where the unions declared a nationwide strike scheduled to commence on November 14, 2023. The strike was announced in response to the alleged assault on the NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, in Imo State the previous week.
However, the Federal Government of Nigeria, alongside the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, filed an ex-parte application urging the court to prevent the unions from proceeding with the planned strike.
In the application, the Federal Government and AGF argued that the strike would cause severe hardship to law-abiding citizens and businesses. During the proceedings on Friday, Tijani Gazali SAN, the counsel for the Federal Government and the AGF, emphasized the suffering of many Nigerians when the labour unions blocked entrances to the main airports during their demonstration on Thursday.
Gazali pleaded with the court, expressing concern that unless the planned strike action is halted, there might be a risk of breaching peace and tranquility in the country.
In his ruling, Justice Benedict Kanyip, the president of the Court, referenced sections 17 and 19 of the National Industrial Court Act and directed the unions to halt their nationwide strike. He asserted the court’s authority to issue a restraining order to ensure peace and tranquility.
Kanyip ordered that the restraining order be affixed to the wall of the Labour House, the last known address of the two defendants, to bring attention to the court’s position. Additionally, the judge directed that the order, along with the originating and other processes, be served on the defendants through publication in two major national dailies.