Court stops planned nationwide strike

Posted by admin Latest Politics Friday, January 6th, 2012

January 7, 2012 by Friday Olokor, Abuja

The National Industrial Court in Abuja on Friday stopped the planned nationwide strike by the organised labour and civil society groups against the removal of the fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

In arriving at the decision, the NIC granted an order restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress from embarking or compelling anybody to go on strike.

The Federal Government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), had brought a motion ex-parte, asking the NIC to stop both NLC and TUC from embarking on the strike, which has been scheduled to kick off on Monday, January 9.

Delivering his ruling, the panel of three justices headed by the President of the NIC, Justice B. A. Adejumo, restrained the defendants from embarking or inciting the general public to embark on general strike, street protests, mass rallies or any other action that would be inimical to the economic affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.

The NIC also granted an order of substituted service of the process on the respondents through national newspapers and adjourned the case till January 12 for hearing of the Motion on Notice.

The office of the AGF had, through its counsel, Mr. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), approached the court for an order restraining the defendants from embarking or compelling other persons to embark on a strike or general strikes, mass rallies and street protests across Nigeria, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.

He had asked the NIC for an order restraining the defendants from interfering with the exercise of the constitutional powers of the executive arm of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the allocation and use of scarce resources of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including but not limited to the transfer of resources previously allocated to the subsidy of Premium Motor Spirit among others for the medium and long term socio-economic benefit of present and future generations of Nigerians.

This was, however, struck out by the court on the premise that it was not a labour-related issue but a policy issue, which the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain.

The claimant wanted an order restraining the defendants from interfering in any way with the executive implementation of the 2012 Appropriation Act and other connected duties of the executive arm of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the management of the economic affairs of the country.

Again, this relief was struck out by the court on the premise that it was not a labour-related issue.

-Punchwp_posts