Court Issues Fresh Order Restraining NLC, TUC From Further Strike In Imo

The National Industrial Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital, has issued a fresh court order of injunction restraining the organised labour from embarking on any further industrial action in the state pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Justice Nelson Ogbuanya gave the order on Friday after hearing the submissions of counsels to both parties that they were yet to reach a settlement on their dispute.

The defendants are the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Secretary-General Emmanuel Ugboaja, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and its Secretary General Nuhu Toro.

In the suit No NICN/ OW/41/2023, the Attorney General of Imo State and the Imo State Government are claimants.

The court held that in considering the motion for interlocutory injunction by the claimants and after hearing from both counsels, it reserved November 30, 2023, for the ruling.

The court further held that: “Considering the court’s duty to ensure that labour dispute and related disagreements between the parties are not allowed to escalate and adversely affect the interests and well-being of the citizenry and third parties who are not involved in the Labour dispute already submitted for adjudication in the pending suit in the court” it was, therefore, necessary for the parties to hold the peace till the next adjourned date.

The judge therefore gave an injunction restraining the defendants from taking part or organizing any strike or industrial action in Imo state pending the outcome of the ruling reserved on the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already heard as argued by both counsels.

The court said parties are hereby directed to be mindful of the consequences of disobedience of the extant court order in a pending suit before the court in line with the provisions of order 63 rule 4 of the rules of the court.

The court adjourned the matter to November, 30,2023 for ruling on the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

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