Court restrains labour unions from embarking on strike in Imo

An industrial court sitting in Owerri, capital of Imo, has issued a restraining order to labour unions from embarking on strike in the state.

Nelson Ogbuanya, the presiding judge, heard the submissions of parties in the matter on Friday.

The defendants in the case were the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Emmanuel Ugboaja, NLC secretary-general, Trade Union Congress (TUC), and Nuhu Toro, TUC secretary-general.

The Imo state government and the attorney-general of the state were the claimants in the suit No NICN/ OW/41/2023.

Ogbuanya said parties in the matter were yet to reach a settlement on their dispute.

“Considering the court’s duty to ensure that labour dispute and related disagreements between the parties are not allowed to escalate and adversely affect the interests and well-being of the citizenry and third parties who are not involved in the Labour dispute already submitted for adjudication in the pending suit in the court,” Ogbuanya said.

The judge asked parties to maintain status quo pending the outcome of the ruling reserved in motion on notice.

After reserving its ruling, the court adjourned the case to November 30 for ruling on the motion on notice.

On October 30, the NLC had vowed to ground activities in Imo from November 1 to protest the alleged violation of rights and privileges of workers.

Joe Ajaero, NLC president, had alleged that the Imo government has not paid some workers for 20 months.

On Wednesday, Ajaero was reportedly picked  up from the Imo council secretariat of the NLC in Owerri by heavily armed police officers.

The NLC said Ajaero was beaten and blindfolded immediately after he was arrested by security operatives.

However, the police command in Imo said Ajaero was not arrested but was taken into protective custody to avoid being lynched by a mob.