Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, has requested that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) suspend its planned statewide protest.
In a letter to the NLC’s lawyer, Femi Falana, the AGF stated that a subsisting injunction prohibits the union from engaging in any industrial action.
The Attorney General went on to say that the aforementioned NLC problems or aims are central to the present lawsuit before the National Industrial Court.
According to the letter, the parties in the litigation cannot hold public demonstrations over the same problems since doing so constitutes flagrant disrespect and an insult to the institution of our courts of justice.
As a result, the anticipated countrywide protest action, in all its consequences, clearly violates the present temporary injunction ruling.
The AGF further noted that the Federal Government has significantly satisfied the union’s requests as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the NLC.
He also urged Falana to advise his clients to refrain from self-help by canceling the proposed protests, which were contrary to the mediatory engagements leading to the execution of the MOU and amounted to undermining the existing restraining court order and disrupting public service, order, and safety.
On February 16, the NLC announced a countrywide protest on February 27 and 28, in response to the country’s present economic woes.
