AGF Urges NLC To Shelve Planned Protest

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has asked the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to shelve its proposed nationwide protest.

In a letter addressed to the counsel for the NLC, Femi Falana, the AGF said there is a subsisting order restraining the union from embarking on any industrial action.

The Attorney General further added that the foregoing issues or objectives of the NLC are at the core of the pending case before the National Industrial Court.

According to the letter, parties in the suit cannot resort to public protests over the same issues, as such conduct amounts to gross contempt and affront to the institution of our courts of law.

Therefore, the proposed nationwide protest action in all ramifications, is in clear violation of the pending interim injunctive order.

The AGF also stated that the Federal Government had substantially met the demands of the union as contained in the Memorandum of Understanding entered with the NLC.

He further implored Falana to enjoin his clients to refrain from self-help by shelving the proposed protests which was antithetical to the mediatory engagements leading to the execution of the MOU, and tantamount to undermining subsisting restraining court order, and occasioning disruption of public service, order, and safety.

The NLC had issued a statement on February 16, that there would be a nationwide protest on February 27 and 28, in demonstration against the current economic challenges facing the country.