Joe Ajaero: Court bars NLC from going on fresh strike in Imo

Joe Ajaero: Court bars NLC from going on fresh strike in Imo

The National Industrial Court in Owerri has issued a fresh interim injunction, preventing Organised Labour from initiating any form of strike action in Imo state until further notice.

This decision was made by Justice N.C.S. Ogbuanya on Saturday, following a hearing of arguments from legal representatives of both parties, who had not yet reached an agreement on their dispute.

The defendants in this case are Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Comrade Nuhu Toro, the Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The claimants, on the other hand, are the Attorney General of Imo State and the Imo State Government.

The court emphasized its duty to prevent labor disputes and related disagreements from escalating and negatively impacting the well-being of the public and third parties who are not directly involved in the dispute. In light of this, the court ordered all parties to maintain peace until the next scheduled court date. The court also cautioned the parties about the repercussions of disregarding the existing court order in the ongoing case before it.

The court has set the next hearing for November 30, during which it will rule on the interlocutory injunction filed by the claimants. The presiding judge issued a warning against disobedience of the court’s order, emphasizing that there will be consequences for any such actions.