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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The National Industrial Court (NIC) has stopped the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) as well as their affiliates from embarking on any form of strike or industrial action scheduled for November14.
President of the court, Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip issued the restraining order following an ex-parte application to that effect brought before the court by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) 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.
The Federal Government and the AGF through their lawyer, Tijani Gazali had in the ex-parte application prayed the court to stop the planned strike action so as to stop untold hardships that would be inflicted on innocent law abiding citizens and their businesses.
Gazali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Director of Civil Appeals in the Federal Ministry of Justice while arguing the ex-parte application drew the attention of Justice Kanyip to series of hardships suffered by Nigerians on Thursday alone when the labour unions blocked entrances to the main airports in the country.
He pleaded that unless the planned action is stopped, there may be likelihood of breach of peace and tranquility in the country.
The judge, in a short ruling, said that it is within the power of the court to intervene by way of restraining order to ensure peace and tranquility.
He thereafter granted all the requests of the federal government as contained in the motion paper.
Justice Kanyip directed that the restraining order be pasted on the wall of the Labour House to draw the attention of the defendants to the court’s position.
