The Nigerian government has warned the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) against embarking on a strike over the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The government stated that any industrial action taken by the union in relation to the removal of fuel subsidy would be contempt of court.
The warning is in reference to an order issued by the National Industrial Court in Abuja on June 5, which restrained the NLC, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and their affiliates from going on strike.
The government reminded the NLC that the issues that led to the court action are the same ones for which the union has issued another strike notice. The NLC is represented in court by the law firm of Femi Falana, SAN.
The statement from the Federal Ministry of Justice expressed concern over the NLC’s disregard for the judiciary and its previous inciting remarks against the court.
The NLC had issued a notice for a nationwide strike on August 2 to protest the removal of fuel subsidy and the hike in the pump price of petrol resulting from the policy announced by President Tinubu.
In the past, the NLC had declared a strike following the policy announcement but later suspended it after meetings with the federal government. The government obtained a court order to stop the strike, and the Labour leaders complied with the court order at the time. Despite their efforts to have the court order set aside, the judge reaffirmed it on June 19.
