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The Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, and their affiliates have been prohibited from initiating any kind of strike or industrial action by the National Industrial Court, which is seated in Abuja.
Following an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council on Tuesday in Abuja, the unions announced a statewide strike that would begin on November 14, 2023.
Following the reported attack on NLC National President Joe Ajaero in Imo State last week, the unions made their decision.
But the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Justice, and the Federal Government of Nigeria filed an ex-parte appeal pleading with the court to prevent the unions from going ahead with the scheduled strike.
The FG and AGF informed the court in their plea that law-abiding citizens and their companies will suffer greatly as a result of the strike.
Tijani Gazali SAN, the Federal Government's and the AGF's attorney, stated during the hearings on Friday that many Nigerians were harmed when labor unions on Thursday blocked the country's principal airport exits during their rally.
He implored the court to take notice of the potential disruption of peace and tranquility in the nation if the planned strike action is not prevented.
In his decision, Justice Benedict Kanyip, the court's president, ordered the unions to end their statewide strike, citing articles 17 and 19 of the National Industrial Court Act.
He said: “It is within the power of the court to intervene by way of restraining order to ensure peace and tranquility."
In addition, the judge ordered that the defendants receive service of the order, the originating procedure, and other documents by publishing them in two significant national dailies.
