The National Industrial Court in Owerri has issued an interim injunction preventing Organised Labour from commencing any strikes in Imo State until further notice. This decision was made by Justice N.C.S. Ogbuanya on Saturday, as both parties’ legal representatives informed the court that they had not yet reached a resolution in their dispute.
The defendants in this case are Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Comrade Nuhu Toro, the Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC). The claimants in the suit, identified as the Attorney General of Imo State and the Imo State Government, sought this injunction.
The court also emphasized the importance of preventing labor disputes from escalating and negatively impacting the well-being of the general public and third parties who are not directly involved in the dispute currently being considered by the court. The parties were instructed to maintain the peace until the next scheduled court date.
The matter is set to be ruled upon for an interlocutory injunction on November 30. The presiding judge warned against disobedience of the court’s order, cautioning that it would have consequences.