ABUJA: The National Industrial Court on Monday restrained workers under the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) from proceeding with a mass protest scheduled for Tuesday or any other day.
Justice Emmanuel Sibilim issued the interim order following an ex-parte motion filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration (FCTA) against the labour unions and their leaders.
The motion, dated February 2 and filed under suit number NICN/ABJ/30/26 by James Onoja, SAN, also named Comrades Benson Upah, General N.A. Toro, and Stephen Knabayi.
After hearing the claimants, Justice Sibilim granted the interim order restraining the 1st to 5th respondents, their agents, or privies from embarking on any strike pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
The judge also directed the 5th to 9th defendants, including security agencies, to maintain law and order, and adjourned the matter until February 10 for further hearing.
Onoja told the court that the FCT Council of Workers Chairman had mobilised members and affiliated unions for the planned protest on February 3, which, he argued, violated an earlier court order.
He added that despite a January 27 ruling and service of the order, the NLC and TUC encouraged affiliated unions to continue the strike, citing an appeal filed by their counsel, Femi Falana, SAN. Following this, the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC) issued a circular directing all FCTA employees to continue the industrial action.
Onoja warned that the continued strike “is aimed at causing a breakdown of law and order in the nation’s capital.”
The FCT Minister and the FCTA noted that since January 19, workers under JUAC had locked entrances to FCTA offices, Secretariat, schools, and other departments, bringing governmental operations to a halt.
