The leadership crisis brewing between Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and 10 of its affiliate unions has taken a new twist as Justice Rabiu Gwandu of the Lagos State Division of the National Industrial Court has restrained the Congress from holding its 12th triennial delegates’ conference.
Justice Gwandu also stopped TUC from holding or taking further steps to hold and conduct elections for the position of president and other national positions pending the hearing and determination of a suit filed by the affiliate union.
The judge granted the interlocutory orders after entertaining the suit filed by the ten senior staff unions over the alleged refusal of the current leadership of TUC to implement a resolution on succession agreed on at the last triennial delegates’ conference.
In the main suit, the claimants specifically accused TUC of declining to implement the resolution reached and ratified on June 28, 2019, which states that the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) should produce the next president of the Defendant for the years 2022 to 2025.
The claimants also alleged that the part of the resolutions which states that the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (FOBTOB) should take the position of TUC President between 2019 and 2022 has been implemented.
They are, therefore, urging the court to determine whether it is proper, fair, just and equitable for the defendant to jettison the agreements and resolutions when the first part has been implemented, the defendant has benefited from it and the Claimants have not altered their positions?
In an affidavit attached to the suit and sworn to by the General Secretary of Pulp Paper and Paper Products Printing and Publishing Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PPAPPPAPSSAN), Benedict Ikegbulam, the claimants are insisting that the court must intervene in the crisis to prevent the violation of the defendant’s constitution.
It maintained that unless the reliefs sought herein are granted, the defendants will continue to act in flagrant defiance to the Supreme Authority of the defendant, the members of the defendant and the sanctity of agreement,” the claimants stated.
Justice Gwandu has fixed July 18 for the hearing of the substantive suit.
