Vacate order stopping workers strike, labour tells court

Vacate order stopping workers strike, labour tells court

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja asking it set aside its interim order restraining workers from going on strike.

Indeed, the two unions maintain that the industrial court does not have the jurisdiction to entertain the matter brought before it by the Federal Government.

In a motion on notice filed by Femi Falana, SAN, the NLC urged the court to vacate the interim order in the interest of justice for the Nigerian workers.

Justice O. Y. Anuwe on Monday directed workers not to proceed on strike following the removal of petroleum subsidy by the Federal Government.

President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration ending fuel subsidy had resulted in petrol price hike as well as instant increase transportation cost across the country.

But the FG posited that the proposed strike was capable of disrupting economic activities, the health and the educational sectors.

The NLC and TUC stated in the court document, “This Honourable Court lacks the jurisdictional competence to hear and determine the case as it was filed in violation of Section 17 {2} of the Trade Disputes Act, which authorises the Minister of Labour and Employment to refer a trade dispute directly to the National Industrial Court.”

They therefore sought “an order of this honourable court setting aside, discharging and/or vacating the ex parte interim order of injunction restraining the Defendants/Respondents, their members, their agents, employees, workmen, servants, proxies or affiliates from embarking on the planned industrial action.”