The Nigeria Labour Congress has suspended its planned nationwide industrial action, following a judgment by the National Industrial Court on Monday, and a meeting with the federal government.
The NIC had issued an order restraining the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) from embarking on any form of strike.
The court, presided by Justice O.Y. Anuwe, on its ruling on an ex-parte application filed by the federal government and the Attorney General of the Federation, held that the defendants should shelve the planned industrial action pending the hearing and determination of the motion of notice dated June 5, 2023.
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In his ruling, Justice Anuwe ordered that the NLC and TUC (the defendants) be served with the originating processes, the motion on notice, and the order of the court.
The judge held that any industrial action will affect the education, health, and other sectors of the economy thereby affecting the nation at large.
The 2023 Western African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) started on May 8 and is expected to end on June 23, 2023, according to the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
The judgment according to the court’s document reads: “The urgency enumerated in the affidavit of urgency and in counsel’s submission reveals a scenario that may gravely affect the larger society and indeed the well-being of the nation at large.
“Counsel has pointed out that students of Secondary Schools nationwide, especially those writing WAEC exams will be affected; the tertiary institutions who have only just resumed after a long ASUU strike will also be affected, not leaving the health sector, amongst other sectors; and above all, the economy of the nation.
“In my view, this is a situation of extreme urgency that will require the intervention of this court.”
Background of the story
On Friday, the NLC and the TUC had declared an indefinite nationwide strike billed to commence on Wednesday, unless the federal government reverses its decision to end fuel subsidy or provide palliatives to mitigate the impact. President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy on Monday last week.
Against this backdrop, negotiations have been ongoing between the government and organized labour. But it has yielded no result as Wednesday nears even after the federal government promised to review the minimum wage upward.
To avert a nationwide strike, which experts warned would exacerbate the country’s wobbly socio-economic situation; the federal government had approached the National Industrial Court with a prayer to restrain the defendants from embarking on strike.
But following the meeting with the federal government, the parties agreed to establish a joint committee to review the proposal for any wage increase or award and establish a framework and timeline for implementation.
The outcome of the meeting was announced by the former Speaker of the House and newly appointed Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, late Monday night.
The outcome is as follows:
“The Federal Government, the TUC, and the NLC would review World Bank Financed Cash transfer scheme and propose the inclusion of low-income earners in the program.
“The Federal Government, the TUC, and the NLC to revive the CNG conversion program earlier agreed with Labour centers in 2021 and work out detailed implementation and timing.
“The Labour centers and the Federal Government to review issues hindering effective delivery in the education sector and propose solutions for implementation.
“The Labour centers and the Federal Government to review and establish the framework for completion of the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries.
“The Federal Government to provide a framework for the maintenance of roads and expansion of rail networks across the country.
“All other demands submitted by the TUC to the Federal Government will be assessed by the joint committee.
“Consequently, the parties agreed follows:
“The NLC to suspend the notice of strike forthwith to enable further consultations
“The TUC and the NLC to continue the ongoing engagements with the Federal Government and secure closure on the resolutions above
“The Labour Centres and the Federal Government to meet on June 19, 2023, to agree on an implementation framework.”