Don’t embark On Mass Protest Against Wike

• Court Bares FCTA Workers

BONNY AMADI WITH AGENCY PEPORT

The National Industrial Court, on Monday, restrained the workers, under the auspices of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), from going ahead with the mass protest scheduled for Tuesday or any other day.

The judge, Emmanuel Sibilim, issued the interim order in a ruling on an exparte motion filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Administration (FCTA) against the labour unions and their leaders.

Others joined in the motion alongside NLC and TUC are Benson Upah, General N.A Toro, and Stephen Knabayi.

The motion, filed on 2 February, stemmed from a suit marked: NICN/ ABJ/30/26, which was filed by James Onoja, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), on behalf of minister and the FCTA.

After listening to the claimants, the judge granted the interim order restraining the first five respondents and their privies or agents from embarking on strike pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The judge also ordered the 5th-9th defendants who are security agencies to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order and adjourned the matter until 10 February for hearing of the motion on notice.

The claimants had told the court that the chairperson of the FCT council of the workers’ Union had sent a message of mobilisation to members and affiliated unions for a mass protest scheduled for 3 February.

The move, the lawyer submitted, was in violation of the orders of the court.

Mr Onoja stated that after the ruling of the court on 27 January, the order of the court was served on the defendants’ same day but that the NLC and TUC issued a statement to all affiliated unions to intensify and sustain the strike.

The statement jointly signed by both unions directed that the striking workers should resume the strike as the unions’ counsel, Femi Falana, also a SAN, had filed an appeal against the interlocutory ruling.

He said following the development, the FCTA workers, under the Joint Union Action Committee (JUAC), issued a circular directing all employees to continue the strike.

“This position is aimed at causing break down of law and order in the nation’s capital,” Mr Onoja said.

The FCT Minister and the FCTA had predicted the application on the fact that on 19 January, the workers, acting under the aegis of the Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC), began an industrial action by locking all entrance to offices and the secretariat of the Federal Capital Terri- tory Administration.

Others are, closure of schools and all departments and agencies of the 2nd claimant, thereby, bringing the governmental functions and activities of the claimants to a standstill.