An unexpected reprieve came the way of the Federal Government on Thursday with an order by the National Industrial Court restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) their officers, affiliates and privies from embarking on any strike or stoppage of work from Monday September, 28 2020.
But the Labour and Federal Government are not bothered by the order, continuing with negotiations at the old banquet hall of the Aso Rock Villa. Many believe the court order cannot hold water to stop organised labour.
Fears of the planned total shutdown of the country has thrown the federal and state governments into a panic mode with the negotiations, and state governors meeting virtually.
Justice Ibrahim Galadima said the court order was pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
The court also granted an order of interim injunction restraining the unions, their officers, affiliates, privies from disrupting, restraining, picketing or preventing the workers or its affiliates or ordinary Nigerians from accessing their offices to carry out their legitimate duties on the 28th September 2020 or any other date.
Justice Galadima made the order sequel to an ex-parte application filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Peace and Unity Ambassadors Association through their counsel, Sunusi Musa.
The court also granted an order compelling the Inspector General of Police and the Director General Department of State Services (DSS) to provide protection for workers engaged in their legitimate duties from any form of harassment, intimidation and bullying by the officers, agents or privies of the unions pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
The 36 state governors are holding an emergency meeting over the threat by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to embark on an industrial action to demand that the Federal Government rescinds its decision on the recent hike in the prices of petroleum products and electricity.
The Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) disclosed this in a statement issued by its Head, Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, in Abuja on Wednesday.
Bello-Barkindo said that the emergency meeting scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Thursday would seek ways of settling the rift and find a mutual agreement.
He said that all governors were expected to attend the first NGF emergency virtual teleconference to consider the matter which he described as of urgent national importance.
Bello-Barkindo said that the matter needs to be quickly resolved in order not to worsen the already bad situation of Nigerians as caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additional reports by NAN and The Nation.