In a significant development, the National Industrial Court has issued a restraining order against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and their affiliates, prohibiting them from embarking on any form of strike or industrial action. The restraining order comes in response to an ex-parte application filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
The President of the Court, Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip, invoked sections 17 and 19 of the National Industrial Court Act to issue the restraining order against organized labour. The application sought to prevent the planned nationwide strike scheduled to commence on November 14.
During the hearing, the government’s legal representative, Tijani Gazali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Director of Civil Appeals in the Federal Ministry of Justice, highlighted the hardships experienced by Nigerians during recent demonstrations where entrances to main airports were blocked. Gazali argued that allowing the planned strike to proceed could lead to a breach of peace in the country.
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Justice Kanyip, convinced by the government’s plea, asserted the court’s authority to intervene through a restraining order to maintain peace and tranquility. The court granted all the requests outlined in the government’s motion, and the restraining order was directed to be prominently displayed at the last known address of the two defendants. Additionally, the order and related documents will be published in two major national dailies to ensure widespread awareness.
The case file has been transferred to Justice Olufunke Anuwe, who specializes in handling similar labor dispute-related matters. This development underscores the ongoing legal proceedings and tensions between the government and labour unions in Nigeria.
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