The Federal Government has warned organised labour that proceeding on a nationwide strike to protest removal of fuel subsidy is in direct violation of court order.
Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday issued a seven-day ultimatum to reverse all its “anti-poor and insensitive policies” or face a nationwide industrial action.
Reacting to the ultimatum in a Wednesday statement, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, B.E Jedy-Agba, said the National Industrial Court barred the union from embarking on any strike regarding petrol subsidy removal.
According to the statement, the court on June 5 granted an injunctive order restraining the NLC and Trade Union Congress “from embarking on the planned industrial action/or strike of any nature, pending the hearing and determination of the pending motion on notice”.
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Jedy-Agba charged the union to explore other means of negotiations with the Federal Government rather than “resorting to self-help and undermining the orders of the court”.
“It is noted that the issues (removal of fuel subsidy, hike in prices of petrol and consequential increase in the cost of living, etc) which precipitated the above court action are the very same issues over which NLC has now issued another strike notice”
“The NLC has submitted to the jurisdiction of the court and is being represented by the reputable law firm of Femi Falana, SAN. It is therefore our minimum expectation that the NLC will allow the courts to perform their constitutional roles rather than resorting to self-help and undermining the orders of the court.
“We note with dismay that this latest strike notice is consistent with the inexplicable disdain which the NLC leadership has visited on the authority of the court in recent times following earlier inciting and derogatory remarks made by the NLC president against the court.
“Aside from the above legal inhibition against any strike action of any nature, we also note that both the federal and state governments are engaging with stakeholders to cushion the collateral effect of the removal of fuel subsidy and increment in fuel price.
“It would be a great act of service to Nigerian workers and the nation’s economy for NLC to explore negotiations rather than embark on any strike action,” Jedy-Agba said.