Despite an order by the National Industrial Court on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) to suspend the nationwide strike scheduled for September 28, the two unions insisted that the action will commence on the proposed date. 

The leaders of the Unions made this known after they met with the Federal Government to ensure the reversal of hike in electricity tariffs and fuel pump price. 

The meeting which started around 4.16 pm at the Banquet Hall in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday ended around 9.22 pm in deadlock. 

Ayuba Wabba, President of the NLC told newsmen that discussion would continue on Monday. 

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The NLC President also dismissed the order by the National Inland court in Abuja restraining them from embarking on the strike action on Monday.

The presiding Judge, Justice Ibrahim Galadima had on Thursday issued an interim injunction following an ex-parte application filed by the applicant by the Incorported Trustees of Peace and Unity Ambassadors Association through their counsel, their counsel, Sunusi Musa. 

Justice Galadima ordered the unions, their officers, affiliates, privies from disrupting, restraining, picketing or preventing the workers or its affiliates or Nigerians from accessing their offices to carry out their official duties on September 28 or any other date. 

The court also ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and the Director-General Department of State, Services, Yusuf Magaji to protest workers from harassment, intimidation and bullying by the officers, agents or privies of the Unions pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice. 

Reacting to the court ruling, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba said he was not served, adding that the group that filed the suit was not his employers.

“How does that (injunction) affect me if I have not been served? Have I been served? Are they our employers? What relationship do I have with any group?”

Corroborating the verdict of the NLC President, the TUC President, Quadri Olaleye, also informed journalists that the mobilisation of workers for the strike would not be suspended.

He noted that the Government failed to reverse or suspend the fuel price hike and electricity tariff adjustment.

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He stated, “We were not the one that adjourned the meeting; the government adjourned it till Monday. Monday is the expiration of the ultimatum and we are still very much focused on that. It is a deadlock now.

“Of course, that (adjournment) will not stop the action that has been put in place. We have told them to reverse or to suspend, while the discussion goes on Monday. So, labour is left with no option but to go our way.”

When asked about the offers or concessions made by the Government’s team, the union leader said, “We are coming with an open mind to find a solution to the problems in the country, especially on the price hike. They have made their proposal, but we are saying let us suspend or reverse, then we can now continue to discuss but they have adjourned. But labour will continue with the mobilisation of workers.”