Governor, Nyesom Wike.
The Rivers State Government has accused the state
chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) of colluding with its
national leadership to force industrial action on workers in the
state.
Briefing journalists in Port Harcourt on Saturday, the
Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state,
Professor Zacchaeus Adangor said the NLC is abandoning a
subsisting court case reserved for judgement on September 29, 2020,
to embark on its threatened current strike.
Prof Adangor explained that on March 16, the Organised Labour
issued a seven-day notice for an indefinite strike but it failed as
scheduled for midnight, March 23.
According to the Commissioner, a suit was instituted by the
Rivers State Government at the Port Harcourt Division of the
National Industrial Court of Nigeria seeking interpretation to the
enabling laws relating to the strike.
He further stated that the originating summons was heard and
instead of the NLC to await the judgment that was reserved for
September 29, they are calling for another strike.
“The Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the
Trade Union Congress of Nigeria failed or neglected to fulfil the
condition precedent for the declaration of the strike action as
prescribed in Section 4,6 and 18(1)(a) of the Trade Dispute
Act, Cap T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,
2004.
“Surprisingly, while suit No. NICN/PH/41/2020 is still
pending and the Interim Order of Injunction issued therein still
subsisting, the defendants acting in collusion and concert with the
national leadership of the Organised Labour (NLC and TUC) issued
another threat of a fresh strike in Rivers state based on the same
reasons,” he said.
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The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice noted that in
the face of overt and unmitigated illegality by Organised Labour,
the Rivers State Government approached the Court because it
believes in the rule of law.
According to him, the government obtained an interim injunction
from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Lagos to
stop the labour strike while also seeking an interpretation of
provisions of the Trade Dispute Act and Trade Union Act.
Professor Adangor said with the subsisting matter in court and
the order of interim injunction, the organised labour in the state
would be committing contempt of court if it embarks on industrial
action.
“The trial court after hearing extensive legal argument from the
Attorney General of Rivers state granted an order of Interim
Injunction restraining all the Defendants on record.
“Whether by themselves or through their servants, agents,
privies, officers or otherwise howsoever called from
embarking on strike action in Rivers State on 5th, 6th, or 7th
September 2020 or any other date whether earlier or later,
pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for
Interlocutory Injunction,” he said.
Speaking further, Adangor noted that all the defendants had been
duly served with the Order of Interim Injunction and they cannot
claim otherwise, adding that the affidavits of service had been
filed in the registry of the court after substituted means of
service was used.