The organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, has stated that all workers in the private and public sectors across the country will appear at court proceedings in a contempt case preferred against labour by the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government.
A statement by the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Festus Osifo, notified Nigerians that the unions had “just received a court summons purporting to charge us with contempt of Court”.
“To further show our collective resolve, All Nigerian workers will resume at the Courts wherever they may be across the nation on the days of the Court sittings to hear the contempt proceedings against the leaders of trade unions,” it read.
“The Airports, the Seaports, the Hospitals, Schools; all public and private sector workers will all appear in Court across the nation in response to the Contempt Charges.”
The Federal Ministry of Justice, on Wednesday, had commenced contempt proceedings against the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress for allegedly embarking on an industrial action contrary to a June 5, 2023, ex parte order by the National Industrial Court.
The “notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court” filed before NIC in Abuja, was addressed to the NLC President, Joe Ajaero; Deputy Presidents, Audu Aruba, Adeyanju Adewale, and Kabiru Sani; General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja; TUC President, Festus Usifo; Scribe/ Chief Executive, Nuhu Toro.
The contempt notice signed by Senior Registrar, Balogun Olajide, reads: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, delivered by Honourable Justice Y. Anuwe on June 5, 2023, as per the attached enrolled order, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”
But the NLC and TUC directed that all Nigerian workers would be appearing in court in the said suit, to show their discontentment.
