NIGERIA — In a bid to prevent any planned industrial action, the National Industrial Court (NIC) has issued an order restraining Organised Labour from embarking on a strike over the removal of fuel subsidy. The Federal Government obtained the ruling on Monday through an exparte application filed before the court.
According to Justice O.Y. Anuwe who presided over the case, the unions must not embark on any form of strike or industrial action pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice, which was filed on June 5th, 2023.
Furthermore, the court has instructed that the originating processes in the case be immediately served to the defendants, with June 19th set as the scheduled date for the hearing. This comes as the Federal Government is gearing up to remove fuel subsidy, a move that has been met with mixed reactions, particularly from Organised Labour.
The NIC's order may have set a precedent in the ongoing dialogue between the government and labour unions, who have threatened to go on strike if the subsidy is removed. While the unions have yet to issue an official statement in response to the court's ruling, it remains to be seen if they will comply with the order.
The NIC's decision has also been welcomed by some Nigerians who believe that a strike is not the solution to resolving the issues surrounding fuel subsidy removal.
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