Court Bars Workers From Strike Action, Picketing FIRS Offices

The National Industrial Court, Abuja Judicial Division, has
stopped the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) from either
picketing the offices of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
nationwide or calling for a strike at any of the Service’s offices
across Nigeria.

A statement, signed by Dr Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad, the Director,
Communications and Liaison Department of FIRS said Justice O. Y.
Anuwe issued the order of interim injunction on Friday in a suit
which the FIRS as claimant/applicant instituted against NCSU, the
defendant/respondent.

The Board of the FIRS had dissolved the NCSU, FIRS unit,
describing it as illegal. Thus, the Union had threatened to go on
strike.

It said the body was illegal.

The statement noted that the court ordered that “the Respondents
are restrained from picketing the offices of the applicant on 26th
July 2021 or any other day pending the determination of the Motion
on Notice.

“They are also restrained from going on strike, as by so doing,
the very essence of the substantive suit is defeated.”

Thus, it said; “parties are to maintain the status quo, and are
not to do anything that may be detrimental to the interest of the
public, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice. The
order to maintain status-quo however binds both parties in this
suit.”

The case is adjourned to 15 October 2021 for a hearing of the
motion on notice and originating summons.

The National Industrial Court, Abuja Judicial Division, has
stopped the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) from either
picketing the offices of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)
nationwide or calling for a strike at any of the Service’s offices
across Nigeria.

A statement, signed by Dr Abdullahi Ismaila Ahmad, the Director,
Communications and Liaison Department of FIRS said Justice O. Y.
Anuwe issued the order of interim injunction on Friday in a suit
which the FIRS as claimant/applicant instituted against NCSU, the
defendant/respondent.

The Board of the FIRS had dissolved the NCSU, FIRS unit,
describing it as illegal. Thus, the Union had threatened to go on
strike.

It said the body was illegal.

The statement noted that the court ordered that “the Respondents
are restrained from picketing the offices of the applicant on 26th
July 2021 or any other day pending the determination of the Motion
on Notice.

“They are also restrained from going on strike, as by so doing,
the very essence of the substantive suit is defeated.”

Thus, it said; “parties are to maintain the status quo, and are
not to do anything that may be detrimental to the interest of the
public, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice. The
order to maintain status-quo however binds both parties in this
suit.”

The case is adjourned to 15 October 2021 for a hearing of the
motion on notice and originating summons.