The National Industrial Court in Abuja has stopped the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress from embarking on any strike or protest in the Federal Capital Territory.
The court, in an interim injunction delivered on Tuesday by Justice Emmanuel Sibilim, restrained the NLC, the TUC and three labour leaders, Benson Upah, General N.A. Toro and Stephen Knabayi, from carrying out any form of industrial action in the FCT.
The order followed an ex parte application jointly filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration.
The application, marked NICN/ABJ/30/26, was argued by a team of lawyers led by James Onoja, SAN.
Justice Sibilim specifically barred the first to fifth respondents, their agents or privies, from proceeding on strike pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The court also directed security agencies listed as defendants in the suit to ensure there was no breakdown of law and order in the nation’s capital.
According to the claimants, the leadership of the FCT chapter of organised labour had allegedly mobilised workers and affiliated unions for a mass protest scheduled for February 3, despite an existing court order restraining such action.
The FCT Minister told the court that an earlier order had been issued on January 27, restraining labour unions from continuing the strike.
He added that the NLC and TUC, instead of complying, issued fresh directives to their affiliates to intensify the action, citing an appeal they had filed against the restraining order.
Wike argued that the directives were capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in Abuja.
In an affidavit in support of the application, the FCT Administration stated that workers under the Joint Unions Action Committee had on January 19 commenced an industrial action by shutting down offices, schools and departments of the FCTA, effectively paralysing government activities.
It added that the administration had approached the National Industrial Court in an earlier suit, which resulted in an interlocutory injunction ordering workers to resume duty pending the determination of the substantive case.
The claimants further alleged that, after being served with the court order, labour leaders issued new circulars urging workers to disregard the directive and resume the strike.
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The court adjourned the matter for the hearing of the motion on notice.
