The National Industrial Court has issued a restraining order against the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress, and their affiliates, preventing them from initiating any strike or industrial action. This legal intervention comes in response to the unions’ announcement, made after an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday in Abuja, declaring a nationwide strike starting from November 14, 2023. The decision to strike was prompted by the alleged assault on NLC National President, Joe Ajaero, in Imo state the previous week.
In reaction to the unions’ planned strike, the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice submitted an ex-parte application to the court, seeking an order to halt the proposed industrial action. The President of the Court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, issued the restraining order on Friday, instructing the unions to refrain from proceeding with their planned nationwide strike.
This legal development underscores the ongoing tensions between labor unions and the government, with the court intervention aimed at maintaining industrial peace and preventing the anticipated nationwide strike.
