The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have been prohibited from carrying out their preplanned industrial action by an order upheld by the National Industrial Court.
The order issued on June 5 will continue to be in effect until the motion on notice is heard and decided, according to reports that Justice Olufunke Anuwe made.
Mr. Ochum Emmanuel, the attorney for the federal government, informed the court during the proceedings that the claimant would soon make their motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction against the defendants to stop the strike. Emmanuel declared that he was prepared to move forward because the defendants had received proper service.
The defendants’ attorney, Mr. Marshall Abubakar, however, reacted by informing the court that his clients had submitted an application to overturn the order issued on June 5 that prevented them from going on strike. The claimant had served them with a counter-affidavit in court on Monday, despite being served with their application on June 8, according to Abubakar’s further explanation.
Abubakar acknowledged that he was unsure about proper service but promised to find out and take the necessary steps. Additionally, he asked for a brief break so that he could review the counter-affidavit and formulate a response.
With the bailiff being told not to serve the opposing party, Emmanuel objected to the adjournment request, claiming that the federal government had never filed a process. He asserted that the bailiff served the defense attorney in court on Monday because the paperwork wasn’t filed in a timely manner on June 16. Emmanuel also emphasized that the defendants were improperly before the court and were unable to request an adjournment because they had not submitted their memorandum of appearance.
Abubakar responded by saying that Emmanuel’s application was pointless because the court had already instructed both parties to maintain the current situation until the substantive suit was heard. The parties would meet later on Monday to try to reach a compromise, he also told the court.
The defendants were told to submit their memorandums of appearance, and both parties were told to maintain the current situation. The court then granted the adjournment.
Following the removal of the fuel subsidy, which increased the price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) at the pump, the defendants had planned to launch a nationwide strike on June 7.
The federal government responded by bringing the lawsuit to put an end to the strike, citing its potential detrimental effects on society and the health of the country.
The claimant argued that the strike might cause business to be negatively impacted, especially in the health and education sectors.
