ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – The Federal Government of Nigeria has informed the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that their planned nationwide strike against the increase in petrol prices and high cost of living is illegal and constrained by a court order.
Voiceofnaija.ng had previously reported the NLC’s seven-day ultimatum to the government, threatening industrial action if their demands were not met.
In response to the ultimatum, B.E Jedy-Agba, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, issued a statement on Wednesday, stating that the NLC was bound by a court order from the national industrial court, preventing them from undertaking any strike related to petrol subsidy removal.
The court had granted an injunctive order on June 5, restraining the NLC and Trade Union Congress from engaging in any industrial action until the pending motion on notice was heard and determined.
Jedy-Agba urged the union to seek alternative avenues for negotiations with the Federal Government, rather than resorting to self-help and disregarding the court’s orders.
The statement highlighted that the issues triggering the strike notice were already subject to the ongoing court proceedings, and the NLC was being represented by Femi Falana, SAN, a reputable law firm.
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The Federal Government expressed dismay at the NLC’s repeated disregard for the authority of the court, citing previous inciting and derogatory remarks made by the NLC president against the court.
Despite the legal restrictions, the government emphasized that they were engaging with stakeholders at both federal and state levels to address the impact of fuel subsidy removal and price increment.
The government called on the NLC to pursue negotiations instead of initiating any strike action, asserting that it would be in the best interest of Nigerian workers and the nation’s economy.