By Muhammed Salman
The organised labour in Kwara State has vowed to continue with its planned industrial action slated for tomorrow (Tuesday), against the injunction of the National Industrial Court.
It would be recalled the State government had this evening secured an exparte order against the planned industrial action.
According to a write-up circulated by the Governor’s media handlers, the exparte order was granted by Justice D.K. Damulak of the Akure Division of the Industrial Court, the order came as the labour unions directed its members to proceed on an indefinite strike from Tuesday unless the government accedes to its requests.
In an affidavit filed at the industrial court in the suit No NICN/AK/53/2020, the government is asking whether it was lawful for it to sign an agreement affecting Local government workers when it is not in control of Local Govt finances nor expending its funds.
The case was instituted by the Attorney General of Kwara State as Plaintiff while the defendants include the Nigeria Labour Congress; Trade Union Congress; Joint Negotiation Committee; Aliyu Issa Ore (State NLC Chairman), Ezekiel Adegoke (State TUC Chairman); and Saliu Suleiman (JNC Chairman). The court therefore adjourned to October 20 to hear the motion.
However, reacting to the development, an highly placed labour leader in the State who craved anonymity because he wasn’t authorised to speak to the press, described the “purported” injunction as a clear pointer of the intention of the government all along.
He said “The labour union is officially unaware of any injunction restraining it from embarking on its proposed industrial action to press for the legitimate right of the Kwara workers, because as at the close of work today, no such order was officially served to us.
“If I’m to rely on information circulating on the social media with regards the purported court injunction, then it shows the government hasn’t been sincere all long with the negotiations which has lasted almost 12 months.
“Running to court shows the government, had since inception never intended to pay the #30,000 minimum wage, abinitio, they’ve only been buying time and nothing more.
” I can assure you the strike will continue tomorrow as planned without hindrance, the congress where the labour leaders derived its mandate to embark on strike that can say otherwise and no congress will hold between now and tomorrow, so the strike action continues” he stressed.
