The National Industrial Court on Monday restrained workers, under the auspices of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, from proceeding with a mass protest scheduled for Tuesday or any other day.
Justice Emmanuel Sibilim gave the interim order while ruling on an ex parte motion filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration against the labour unions and their leaders.
Those joined in the motion alongside the NLC and TUC include Comrades Benson Upah, General N.A. Toro, and Stephen Knabayi.
The motion, dated February 2, arose from a suit marked NICN/ABJ/30/26, which was filed by James Onoja, SAN, on behalf of the minister and the FCTA.
After listening to submissions by the claimants, Justice Sibilim granted an interim order restraining the first to fifth respondents and their privies or agents from embarking on a strike pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The judge also ordered the fifth to ninth defendants, who are security agencies, to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order, and adjourned the matter until February 10 for hearing of the motion on notice.
The claimants told the court that the chairman of the FCT council of the workers’ union had sent out a mobilisation message to members and affiliated unions for a mass protest scheduled for February 3.
The move, the claimants’ lawyer submitted, was in violation of existing court orders.
Onoja told the court that following the ruling delivered on January 27, the court order was served on the defendants on the same day, but that the NLC and TUC subsequently issued a statement to all affiliated unions directing them to intensify and sustain the strike.
The statement, jointly signed by both unions, directed that striking workers should continue the strike, noting that the unions’ counsel, Femi Falana, SAN, had filed an appeal against the interlocutory ruling.
He further said that following the development, FCTA workers, under the Joint Union Action Committee, issued a circular directing all employees to continue with the strike.
“This position is aimed at causing break down of law and order in the nations capital,” Onoja said.
The FCT minister and the FCTA based their application on the fact that “On Jan. 19, the workers in the employment of the 2nd claimant, acting under the aegis of the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), began an industrial action by locking all entrance to offices and the secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
Others are closure of schools and all departments and agencies of the 2nd claimant, thereby, bringing the governmental functions and activities of the claimants to a standstill.”
