Justice Emmanuel Subilim of the National Industrial Court has issued an interim order restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and three others from embarking on any form of industrial action or protest.
Ruling on an ex parte application filed by Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration, Justice Subilim granted an interim order restraining the 1st to 5th respondents and their privies or agents from embarking on strike pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
He also ordered the 5th to 9th defendants, who are security agencies, to ensure no breakdown of law and order.
The ex parte motion, which was filed by counsel to Wike and the FCTA, Ogwu Onoja, submitted that the Chairman of the FCT Council had sent a message of mobilisation to members and affiliated unions for a mass protest today.
This move, he noted, violates the court’s orders.
He added that after the court’s ruling on 27th January, the order was served on the defendants, and on the same day, the NLC and TUC issued a statement to all affiliated unions to intensify and sustain the strike.
The statement, jointly signed by both unions, directed that the striking workers resume the strike, as the unions’ counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), has filed an appeal against the interlocutory ruling.
The court subsequently adjourned the hearing until February 10.
Earlier, the FCT Police Command urged the two labour centres to reschedule their planned protest.
It cited intelligence reports of potential security threats as a reason for the need for a shift in the date for the protest planned to take place this morning in Abuja.
Expectedly, the request has faced resistance from organised labour, which is increasingly angry about the economic hardships it is facing.
The police, through its spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, stated that intelligence indicated plans by the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) and other non-state actors to infiltrate and disrupt the protest.
The command warned that this situation could pose a threat to public peace and safety in the nation’s capital.
However, labour believes that the police advisory is part of a recurring pattern of restrictions on workers’ protests, especially during times of economic tension.
The two labour centres insisted that they had followed proper procedures in notifying security agencies and emphasised that the protest was intended to be peaceful and focused on workers’ welfare.
While expressing frustration, labour stated that workers cannot be expected to remain silent in the face of unpaid salaries and allowances.
The botched protest is being termed a solidarity rally with members of the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC).
All the affiliates and state councils of the NLC and TUC in FCT were to participate in the solidarity rally scheduled to hold at the premises of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) in Abuja.
A statement jointly signed by Acting General Secretary of NLC, Benson Upah and Secretary General of TUC, General NA Toro said: “The rally is to publicly affirm that an injury to one is an injury to all, and that the Nigerian labour movement will not abandon its own.”