The National Industrial Court (NIC) has issued a restraining order against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and their affiliates, preventing them from proceeding with the planned nationwide strike scheduled to commence on November 14.
The order was issued on Friday evening by President of the Court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, following an ex-parte application presented by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
Justice Kanyip invoked Sections 17 and 19 of the National Industrial Court Act to issue the restraining order against the labour unions.
The Federal Government and the Attorney General, represented by their lawyer, Tijani Gazali, sought the court’s intervention to halt the proposed strike action, emphasizing the potential hardships it could inflict on law-abiding citizens and businesses.
Gazali, in presenting the ex-parte application, drew the court’s attention to the hardships experienced by Nigerians and warned of the likelihood of a breach of peace and tranquility in the country if the strike proceeded.
The court, recognizing its authority to intervene through a restraining order to maintain peace, granted all the requests presented by the Federal Government.
In a brief ruling, Justice Kanyip directed that the restraining order be conspicuously displayed on the wall of the Labour House, the last known address of the two defendants (NLC and TUC), to notify them of the court’s decision.
The judge also instructed that the order, along with the originating and other legal documents, be served on the defendants through publication in two major national newspapers.
The case file has been transferred to Justice Olufunke Yemi Anuwe, who is reportedly handling similar labour dispute-related matters between the same parties.
Justice Anuwe, the Court President, is expected to issue a hearing notice to the parties at the appropriate time.
