The National Industrial Court (NIC), yesterday reaffirms the order restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) from embarking on their planned industrial action subsists.
Justice Olufunke Anuwe stated that the order, which was granted on June 5, subsists pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The court also ordered that parties maintain status quo and adjourned the matter till July 20 for hearing.
Earlier, when the case was called, the Federal Government’s counsel, Mr. Ochum Emmanuel, informed the court that the matter was slated for yesterday for the claimant to take its motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction to restrain the defendants from embarking on strike.
The lawyer said he was ready to proceed with his application as the defendants had been served.
But the defendants’ counsel, Mr. Marshall Abubakar, replied that he had filed an application praying the court to set aside its order granted on June 5 which restrained his clients from embarking on strike.
Abubakar submitted that the claimant was served the application on June 8, only for them to serve a counter-affidavit in court yesterday.
He added that the claimant filed the counter-affidavit on June 16 and instructed the bailiff not to serve them until yesterday.
When the court enquired if defence was properly before the court, Abubakar replied that he was not certain but promised find out and do the needful.
The defence lawyer also prayed for a short adjournment in order to look at the counter-affidavit and respond.
Emmanuel opposed Abubakar’s application for an adjournment and urged the court to allow him take his motion on notice, which was slated for hearing.
The government lawyer submitted that if the court should deem it fit to grant Abubakar’s application for an adjournment, the court should declare that the order restraining the defendants from embarking on strike granted on June 5 also subsisted.
In its ruling, the court granted the application for an adjournment, directed the defendants to enter their memorandum of appearance and instructed parties to maintain the status quo.
The defendants had planned to embark on a nationwide strike on June 7 to protest the fuel subsidy removal that brought about the new pump price for the premium motor spirit (PMS) or petrol.
The Federal Government had instituted the suit to stop the defendants, stating that the proposed strike might gravely affect the larger society and the well-being of the citizens.
The claimant also averred that the strike was capable of disrupting economic activities that would affect especially the health and the educational sector.
