The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) on Friday issued an order of interim injunction stopping members of organised labour, including the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and their affiliates from proceeding with the nationwide strike scheduled to commence on November 14.
Goldennewsng reports that the president of the court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, issued the order on Friday while ruling on an ex-parte application.
The application was brought before the court by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) on behalf of the Federal Government and argued by Tijani Gazali (SAN), Acting Director (Civil Appeals), Federal Ministry of Justice.
Justice Kanyip said the order shall subsist until the determination of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunctions equally filed by the AGF.
The judge said the court is empowered under sections Section 7(1) and 19(a) of the NICN Establishment Act, to hear such ex-parte application and grant such ex-parte order where a strike is threatened, but yet to be commenced, as in this case.
Recall that the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) leadership had declared a total nationwide strike after an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.
The organized labour unions, following the announcement, have commenced mobilisation of members and allies across the country.
The decision was reached by NLC and TUC after the brutalisation of NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, last week in Imo State.
There had been widespread outrage by the Organised Labour accusing the former Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Mohammed Barde, of complicity in the recent attack on Ajaero, in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The Organised Labour last Friday handed the Federal Government a five-day ultimatum to replace Barde while also blaming the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, for the attack on Ajaero.
The governor, however, had since said he had no hand in the attack on the labour leader.
The organised labour also demanded the arrest and prosecution of some of the governor’s aides and threatened to embark on a nationwide industrial action if their demands were not fulfilled.
