TheCable

A national industrial court in Owerri has issued an interim order restraining the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) from embarking on any strike action in Imo state.

Nelson Ogbuanya, the presiding judge, issued the order on Thursday.

The judge also restrained the NLC and TUC or any of its affiliates “from stopping, hindering, disrupting, or interfering in any manner whatsoever with the provision of services and other work by their members in the civil and public service in Imo” pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed by the state government.

The judge further ordered the Imo state government to serve the originating summons, motions on notice, and other processes including the restraining order on the defendants.

In the event that service cannot be promptly effected, the judge made an order for substituted service via any national newspaper.

The suit was adjourned to May 11 for hearing.

Organised labour had declared an industrial action in Imo as a result of the disruption of the workers’ day celebration in the state on Monday.

However, Philip Nwansi, Imo chairman of the NLC, said workers in the state will not join the strike declared by the national leadership of the congress.

He argued that workers have “a robust industrial harmony” with the state government and as such, there was no need for a strike.