Despite the court order prohibiting the Nigerian Labour Union from striking, the union proceeded to initiate an indefinite nationwide strike yesterday.
This action followed reports of the attack on Joe Ajaero, the leader of the Nigerian Labour Congress, during a protest march in Imo state. The march aimed to address issues such as the non-payment of salaries and pensions just before the Imo state election.
The Trade Union Congress, aligning with the strike, responded to the court injunction through their president, Festus Osifo. When questioned on Arise News about their decision to flout the court order, potentially leading to contempt charges, Osifo stated:
“The first person that would be in contempt of court is the attorney general himself. The ex-CBN governor, for example, Emefiele, you heard when court said severally the DSS should release him. So, we are copying what the Federal Government is doing”.
As of today, I haven’t obtained a copy of the court order but saw it on television. Which court are we discussing? Is it the same court mentioned by the retired Supreme Court justice who possesses it? This government-controlled court cannot continuously exploit injunctions to undermine the labor movement.
