The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) insistence on nationwide indefinite strike may have rattled the Federal government which reminded them of subsisting court order restraining their planned action.
On Monday afternoon the NLC and TUC revived its earlier planned nationwide strike since the brutalization of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in Owerri, Imo state on November 1 by alleged agents of the state government.
But Monday night, the Federal government through the office of the Attorney General of the Federation,
reminded Labour Unions of the restraining interim order granted on November 10 by the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice B. B. Kanyip.
In a statement by Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Assistant Communication & Publicity to the AGF & Minister of Justice, the federal government urged labour unions to refrain from running fool of contempt of court.
“Any action taken contrary to the order will be tantamount to contempt of court.
“We use this medium to urge the unions to respect the court order and adhere to the principle of the rule of law. There is no need to resort to self-help”, Ogundele stated.
The full text of the statement reads:
LABOUR UNIONS MUST RESPECT SUBSISTING COURT ORDER
We wish to remind the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress that there is a subsisting court order stopping the unions and their affiliates from embarking on the strike.
The interim order was granted on November 10 by the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice B. B. Kanyip.
The unions have been served the court order and, therefore, must surrender themselves to the authority of the court which is already seized with the facts of the case.
Any action taken contrary to the order will be tantamount to contempt of court.
We use this medium to urge the unions to respect the court order and adhere to the principle of the rule of law. There is no need to resort to self-help.
We urge workers to report for duties and not to entertain any fear as their safety is guaranteed and will be protected within the ambit of law.
Kamarudeen Ogundele
Special Assistant Communication & Publicity to the AGF & Minister of Justice
