The Abuja division of the National Industrial Court has granted a request by President Bola Tinubu-led federal government for an interim injunction to stop the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) from embarking on their planned nationwide industrial strike in response to the abrupt removal of fuel subsidy.

The suit was filed on Monday and the application for the interim injunction was filed simultaneously.

In her ruling, Justice O.Y. Anuwe granted the reliefs sought by the federal government, effectively barring the labour movements from proceeding with the strike scheduled to commence on Wednesday.

“The defendants/respondents are hereby restrained from embarking on the planned Industrial Action/or strike of any nature, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice dated 5′ June 2023.

“It is ordered that the defendant/ Respondents be immediately served with the originating processes in this suit, the Motion on Notice and the order of this court hereby made.

“The Motion on Notice is hereby fixed for hearing for 19 June 2023. Hearing Notices to that effect shall be served on the defendants/respondents along with the other processes,” copy of the order seen by Peoples Gazette read.

In a move that could strain the new administration’s relationship with organised labour, the suit was heard in the absence of the respondents, NLC and TUC with orders subsequently issued.

Contrary to Mr Tinubu’s repeated promise of wide consultation with stakeholders on matters of far-reaching national consequence, the federal government applied to serve the orders of the court on the labour movements by publishing in two national newspapers and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) as well as pasting the orders on the walls of labour union buildings.

Mr Tinubu sent the country into nationwide panic last week when he announced that the fuel subsidy initially scheduled to be outed by June ending “is gone.” Fuel marketers relied on the president’s comments to ignore the June deadline and prematurely adjusted the pump price of petrol.