FG withdraws contempt suit against labour, NLC may suspend strike
Federal Ministry of Justice suit against labour leaders
The Federal Government on Monday backtracked and withdrew its contempt suit filed against leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress for organising a nationwide anti-subsidy protests on August 2, 2023.
The development came barely five days after the Federal Ministry of Justice sued the organised labour leaders for allegedly disobeying a court order barring them from leading the nationwide protest.
The National Industry Court had stopped the organised labour from going on strike but human rights lawyer and counsel to the organised labour, Femi Falana, insisted the union could proceed on the protest.
On Wednesday evening, the organised labour met with President Bola Tinubu and reached an agreement to end the one-day protest. This came with agreements that the Federal Government would approve labour awards and expedite the implementation of subsidy palliative.
Despite the agreement the Ministry of Justice sued the organised labour for court contempt, a development that angered labour leaders who later announced plans to begin a nationwide strike on August 14.
However, the Federal Ministry of Justice on Monday said the government had backtracked from going ahead with the contempt suit
The ministry, in a letter dated August 7,2023, and addressed to the Nigeria Labour Congress through their counsel, Femi Falana SAN, said the contempt proceedings filed against the congress for embarking on a nationwide protest last Wednesday was no longer valid.
The letter, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, stated that the ministry filed the contempt proceedings before the interventions of the President and the National Assembly.
The letter, addressed to NLC’s counsel, Femi Falana, the attention of the Federal Ministry of Justice has been drawn to the Communique issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress on 3 August 2023 wherein NC announced the suspension of its nationwide protests and criticised the contempt summons issued by the National Industrial Court (*Court”), amongst other issues.
