The Federal Government on Monday said it did not proceed with the contempt suit it planned to file against Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) for organizing nationwide protest against fuel subsidy removal on August 2, 2023.
The National Industry Court had stopped the organized labour from going on strike, however human rights lawyer and counsel to the organized labour, Femi Falana insisted the union could proceed on the protest.
The Ministry of Justice insisted Labour Unions had gone against the court and planned to sue NLC and TUC for contempt, saying they disobeyed a court order barring them from organizing a nationwide protest.
In a change of event, the ministry in a letter dated August 7, signed by the Permanent Secretary, Beatrice Jeddy-Agba addressed to the NLC through their counsel, Femi Falana said the contempt proceedings against the congress for embarking on a nationwide protest last Wednesday was no longer valid.
According to the ministry the initially planned contempt suit was before the interventions of the President and the National Assembly, explaining that the suit was motivated by the need to protect court’s integrity.
“It is self-evident that the none-issuance of Form 49 as at 4th of August 2023, renders the contempt proceedings inchoate. You may therefore wish to advise or guide the labour unions on the practice and procedure of contempt proceedings, particularly to the effect that the issues or concerns raised by NLC in its communiqué on the proceedings have been overtaken by events,” the letter read in part.
Meanwhile, the NLC had on August 3 issued an ultimatum to the federal government, demanding the withdrawal of a lawsuit against the union regarding their nationwide protest on Wednesday.
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