No court order will stop protest- NLC to Imo govt

VAM News update

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says the Congress will go ahead with the Mass Protest in Imo State to save workers in the state from violation of the their rights and privileges on Wednesday November 1, 2023.

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero made this known at a Press Conference in Abuja.

Comrade Ajaero stated that efforts to engage with the Imo State Government in a dialogue and reach amicable agreement proved abortive.

The Labour Leader alleged that the Imo state government has continue to renege on agreements reached with organised labour on January 9, 2021.

Other issues raised by NLC, are outstanding salary arrears, labelling workers as ‘ghost workers’, destruction of NLC State Secretariat among others.

However, Imo State Government had approached the court, restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress from embarking on the Mass Protest in the state.

Restraining order
Meanwhile, the National Industrial Court sitting in Owerri the Imo state capital issued an extended interim injunction restraining the organised labour from embarking on any kind of strike in Imo state.

Both the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress are further ordered not to embark on OCCUPY IMO, as planned, until the next adjourned date.

Justice Nelson Ogbuanya gave the order after hearing the submissions of the Attorney General of Imo State, Cyprian Akaolisa, who approached the court to grant an extended interim order against the defendants in view of their fresh threat to embark on strike through ‘Occupy Imo’.

The defendants are Nigeria Labour Congress and the secretary General, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja and the Trade Union Congress and its secretary General, Comrade Nuhu Toro.

In the suit NICN/ OW/41/2023, in which the Attorney General of Imo State and the Imo State Government are applicants, they prayed that since there is a subsisting order restraining the defendants from going on strike, the order should be extended.

Their argument was hinged on an affidavit by which the first defendant (NLC) by a letter dated 16th October, 2023 is currently mobilising its members from the South East and South South for a strike to occupy Imo from November 01, 2023.

After hearing from both counsels in the suit, the court granted the order of extended interim injunction restraining the defendants from embarking on any strike in whatever guise.

The court warned against the disobedience of its order, saying that it will attract consequences.

The Court adjourned the matter to November 03, 2023 for either hearing or report of settlement.