Following tomorrow’s nationwide protest, Femi Falana, has written a letter to the Federal Government, asserting that the Nigeria Labour Congress is not disobeying the court.
According to him, Nigerians are not required to obtain a permit when engaging in demonstrations related to public interest.
Falana stated, “We submit, without any fear of contradiction, that the proposed public protest of the NLC is not contemptuous of the two exparte orders of the National Industrial Court (NIC). In particular, the issue of contempt does not arise, as the NLC has challenged the jurisdiction of the NIC to entertain the substantive case.
“It is further submitted that the NIC has not restrained the members of the NLC from exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression to protest against the excruciating economic pains being experienced by the masses.”
Falana while urging authorities to provide NLC security added the trade union complied with the exparte order, they promptly filed an application to set aside same for want of jurisdiction previously.
“On June 5, 2023, Justice Yemi Anuwe granted the application of the federal government for an exparte order to restrain the NLC and TUC from embarking on strike against the removal of fuel subsidy. Although both the NLC and TUC complied with the exparte order, they promptly filed an application to set aside same for want of jurisdiction.
“They equally asked for a stay of execution of the order exparte pending the determination of the motion. The application to set aside the exparte order filed by the defendants and the motion for interlocutory injunction filed by the claimants have not been considered, as parties resolved to settle the case out of court.
“Even though the parties signed a 16-point memorandum of understanding, the federal government did not implement all the terms of the agreement. Hence, on August 2, 2023, both NLC and TUC held a peaceful protest throughout the country,” Falana’s letter added.
