All is set for the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and their affiliate to proceed with the industrial action they planned last two weeks in protest of price hike of fuel and electricity despite Court injunction restraining them from taking such action, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has warned that it is ready to enforce the court order on the matter.
There were two court injunctions restraining the unions and their affiliates from embarking on industrial action, however, the labour seems to have made up its mind to proceed on the already planned strike come Monday,28 September 2020, though labour claimed it was yet to be served with the court order.
The Labour union revealed that it is only one thing that would make them rescind their plan and that if for the Federal Government reverse the tariff hike on the fuel and the electricity.
Accordingly, the National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja had on Thursday granted order of Interim Injunction restraining the NLC and their affiliate from proceeding with the industrial action pending the determination of the suit.
This followed an ex-per tie motion filed by a group, peace and Unity Ambassadors Association through its counsel, Sanusi Musa.
In a similar manner, the court granted an order compelling the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of States Services to provide protection for workers engaging in their lawful duties from any form of harassment, intimidation and bullying that may arise from labour leaders and their cronies until hearing of the ex-per tie on notice.
Similarly, 24hrs later, another order was issued on the same matter restraining the Labour from embarking on strike action in favour of suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami SAN, marked NICN/257/2020.
However, in reaction to the Saturday order, the Inspector General of Police through its spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba said they would enforce the position of the law.
The meeting that took place between the Federal Government and the labour leaders ended in a deadlock and was scheduled to continue on Monday, the same day labour intended to proceed on the industrial action.
Meanwhile, some lawyers opined that the police do not have powers to stop labour from their planned industrial action.