The federal government has got an order restraining the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, from embarking on strike over the recently removed fuel subsidy in the country.

The NLC, last week, gave the federal government till Wednesday, June 7, to revert to the old pump price of N185 or face industrial action.

The strike, according to NLC president, Joe Ajaero, would be followed by a nationwide protest.

In the statement announcing the ultimatum, NLC described the new price template issued by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, which increased petrol pump price to N500 and above, as  vexatious, and an ambush which might scuttle its ongoing dialogue with the federal government.

According to Ajaero, government could not in one breathe be talking about deregulation and at the same time fixing the prices of petroleum products.

However, barely a few hours to the expiration of the ultimatum, the federal government has secured a restraining order from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja.

The court order made available to FrontPage reads in part: “I have heard learned counsel for the Claimant/Applicants on a Motion Ex-Parte wherein they seek an order of this court restraining the defendant/Respondent, their members, agents, employees, workmen, servants, proxies or affiliate from embarking on the planned Industrial action and/or strike pending the determination of the Motion on Notice which was filed along with this application. I have read the supporting affidavit and Exhibits FGN1, 2 and 3, as well as the Written Address of counsel. I have also read the affidavit of urgency dated and filed 5th June, 2023.

“Learned counsel for the Applicant has pointed out that the proposed strike action is capable of disrupting economic activities, the health sector and the educational sector. Exhibits FGN1,2 and 3, are notices from the 1st defendant and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) respectively, to their members, to withdraw their services from Wednesday, 7th June 2023.”