The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has issued an order of interim injunction restraining members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and their affiliates from proceeding with their planned strike scheduled to begin November 14.
The president of the court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, gave the order Friday while ruling on an ex-parte application brought by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on behalf of the federal government and argued by the Acting Director (Civil Appeals), Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Tijani Gazali (SAN).
Justice Kanyip said the order “shall subsist until the determination of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunctions equally filed by the AGF.”
According to the judge, the court is empowered under Sections 7(1) and 19(a) of the NICN Establishment Act to hear such ex-parte application and grant such ex-parte order where a strike is threatened, but yet to be commenced as in this case.
Per Second News reports that both labour unions had, on November 7, declared a nationwide strike which would begin on November 14, 2023, in protest against the alleged brutalisation of the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, in Owerri, Imo state.
