The National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued a restraining order against organized labor, preventing them from proceeding with the planned strike set to begin on Wednesday, News About Nigeria reports.
The court’s decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by the federal government, represented by the Attorney General Federation, against the Nigerian Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress.
The court has directed the unions to halt any industrial action until a motion on Notice, dated 5th June 2023, has been heard and determined.
It is worth mentioning that the Nigeria Labour Congress and its affiliated unions have been actively mobilizing for a nationwide strike starting on Wednesday, 7th May 2023, in protest of the removal of fuel subsidies.
Despite the federal government’s efforts to hold a meeting to address the deadlock in a previous encounter with the labor union, the NLC has firmly stated that it will not engage in any further discussions with the government unless the old pump price of petrol is reinstated before 29th May.
Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress has presented a set of demands to the federal government during a meeting held on Sunday.
They have warned that failure to meet these demands would result in a strike being called by their members.
On Monday, Justice O.Y. Anuwe, the presiding judge, issued an order allowing the applicants to serve the interim order, along with the motion on Notice and Originating Summons, to the defendants.
The court has granted permission to the applicants to serve the necessary documents by affixing them on the walls or entrance of the defendants’ known addresses.
These addresses include Plot 829/821 at Labour House in the Central Business District of Abuja and No. 47 on Yakubu Gowon Crescent in the Asokoro District of Abuja.
