AGF Urges NLC and TUC to Adhere to Court Order

The Attorney General for the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has issued a warning to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), emphasizing the existence of a standing court order prohibiting the unions and their affiliates from initiating a strike.

The minister has urged both the NLC and TUC to comply with the court order and uphold the principles of the rule of law, emphasizing that resorting to self-help is unnecessary. This cautionary statement was conveyed through Kamarudeen Ogundele, the Special Assistant Communication and Publicity to the AGF and Minister of Justice.

Emphasizing the importance of respecting the court order, the Minister stressed that any actions taken contrary to the order would be considered contempt of court. He further encouraged workers to fulfill their job responsibilities, assuring them that their safety is guaranteed and will be safeguarded within the confines of the law.

The statement stated, “We wish to remind the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress that there is a subsisting court order preventing the unions and their affiliates from embarking on the strike. The interim order was granted on November 10 by the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice B. B. Kanyip.”

“The unions have been served the court order and, therefore, must surrender themselves to the authority of the court, which is already seized with the facts of the case. Any action taken contrary to the order will be tantamount to contempt of court. We use this medium to urge the unions to respect the court order and adhere to the principle of the rule of law. There is no need to resort to self-help. We urge workers to report for duties and not to entertain any fear as their safety is guaranteed and will be protected within the ambit of the law.”