Minna – The strike embarked upon by the organized labour in Niger State continued on Wednesday in spite of a court order obtained by the State Government from the Industrial Arbitration Court.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that civil servants in the state are on strike to protest against the slashing of their salaries.
Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Jonathan Vatsa, said in a statement that the State Government had secured interim injunction restraining the unions from embarking on the strike.
“The state government has secured court order restraining NLC and TUC from calling civil and public servants in Niger State on a strike pending determination of motion on notice on July 15.
“The Experte Order was granted by Hon. Justice P.O Lifu (JP) of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria holden in Abuja.
“Any civil and public servants found circumventing this court order will have him or herself to blame”, it stated.
Chairman of TUC in the state, Mr Tanimu Yunusa, said the organized labour was neither served nor aware of any such order.
“As a labour leader in the state, I can tell you that I am just hearing this from you as I am not aware of any court injunction stopping our strike, and have not been served with any order.
“As far as labour is concerned, the strike goes on until our demands are met by the state government. So, any one saying that we have been served with any court order is telling you lies”, he added
On whether the state government had reached out to labour since the commencement of the strike, the TUC leader said, “no we have not been contacted by anyone from the side of government.
“The only people who have contacted us are concerned groups of citizens in the state including religious leaders.
“As I speak to you, we are about going into a meeting with one of such groups”, he said.
A visit by NAN to state government buildings and offices revealed full compliance with the strike by workers. (NAN)
