The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has granted an interim order that restrains the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), as well as their agents and affiliates, from initiating or continuing any strike action in Imo State, News About Nigeria reports.
The order was given in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, and is effective until the court hears and decides the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed in the lawsuit.
Justice Nelson Ogbuanya signed the interim injunction, which also prohibits the NLC, TUC, or any of their affiliates from obstructing or interfering in any way with the provision of services and work by their members in the civil and public service in Imo State.
This order is in effect until the hearing and decision of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction in the lawsuit.
The Imo State government, which filed the lawsuit, was ordered by Justice Ogbuanya to serve the originating summons, motions on notice, and other court papers on the NLC and TUC defendants, as well as the interim order granted, by publishing them in any national newspaper circulating in Nigeria if the court documents and the interim order cannot be delivered to the trade unions as prescribed under order 7 rule 1 (1)(h)(ii) of the court’s regulations before the return date of further proceedings.
Justice Ogbuanya scheduled the return date for the court proceedings and the hearing of the case for May 11th, 2023.
This order was granted following an ex-parte motion filed by the Imo State government, alleging that the NLC and TUC, along with their affiliates, threatened to embark on an industrial strike over an industrial dispute with the state government.
The government claimed that the strike would disrupt the provision of essential services to the public, and as a result, it requested the court to intervene by issuing an interim order.
The Nigerian labour unions have been in disagreement with the Imo State government over issues concerning the payment of salaries and pensions, as well as the implementation of the new minimum wage.
The NLC and TUC, along with their affiliates, had previously issued a 14-day ultimatum to the state government to address their concerns or face industrial action.
The interim order has been met with mixed reactions, with some individuals and groups expressing support for the court’s decision, while others have criticized the order, stating that it is a violation of workers’ rights to peaceful protest and collective bargaining.
