By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Abuja on Monday barred the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) from embarking on a planned nationwide strike on Wednesday, June 7 over removal of subsidy on fuel, a development that has led to increase in the price of petrol by over 150 percent across the country.
The presiding judge, Justice Olufunke Anuwe stopped NLC and all its affiliates from proceeding with the strike pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The court further ordered the service of the originating summons and motion on notice on the NLC against the next adjourned date of June 19.
The orders of the court followed an ex parte application by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice seeking to stop the planned strike.
President Bola Tinubu had on his inauguration on May 29 announced the removal of subsidy on petrol, saying provision was not made for it in the 2023 budget.