The Rivers State Government on Saturday 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.
NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC had threatened to shut down economic activities in the state starting from Monday over the refusal of the state government to renegotiate the new minimum wage conditions.
When the Organized Labour Unions pressed the state government to return to the negotiation table in March, the government sealed the NLC Secretariat in D-line, Port Harcourt. The Secretariat was built by the Nyesom Wike-led administration.
An attempt by the unions to meet at another venue last month became an issue of contention as the unions alleged that the state government sent thugs to harass them.
But briefing journalists in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor said 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 the 16th March 2020, the Organised Labour issued seven days notice for an indefinite strike but failed as scheduled for midnight 23rd March 2020.
He said 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.
According to him, the originating summons was heard and instead of NLC to await the judgment that is reserved for September 29, 2020, 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 the 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 fresh strike in Rivers state based on the same reasons,” he stated.
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 interpretation of provisions of the Trade Dispute Act and Trade Union Act.
Prof. Adangor said with the subsisting matter in court and the order of Interim Injunction, the organised labour in Rivers 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 a 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 stated.
Prof. Adangor said all the Defendants had been duly served with the Order of Interim Injunction and they cannot claim otherwise.
He stated that the affidavits of service had been filed in the registry of the court after substituted means of service was used.
According to him, the Vanguard and the Daily Sun Newspapers of Thursday, September 3, 2020 were used, which is legally binding on the Defendants.
“Every disobedience of an Order of Court constitutes contempt of Court. The organised Labour is therefore warned against any act of overt or subtle disobedience of the substituting order,” he added.
