Court Suspends TUC 12th Triennial Delegate Conference Over Leadership Tussle

By Roland Ekama

 

The Lagos Judicial Division , National Industrial Court has suspended the forthcoming 12th triennial delegate conference and elections of Trade Union Congress (TUC) from holding over leadership tussle.

 

The 12th Triennial Delegate Conference and Election was expected  to hold between 19th and 20th July 2022.

 

The Association of Senior Staff Bank , Insurance, and Financial Institution ( ASSBIFI) and nine other affiliate unions from the TUC seek for redress over the leadership crisis.

Hon. Justice Rabi Gwandu of the Lagos Judicial Division , National Industrial Court in his hearing also adjourned  the case between  Association of Senior Staff Bank , Insurance, and Financial Institution ( ASSBIFI) and nine other unions versus the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria to  18th July 2022.

 

At hearing on Wednesday July 6th 2022, the presiding Judge granted an interlocutory order as prayed by  ASSBIFI and others the motion paper dated and filed on the 16th of June 2022.

 

Justice Gwandu stated that an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants/ respondent by itself, servants, officers, agents or privies by whatsoever name so called from holding or taking further steps to hold and conduct election into the position of President and other National officers pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit before the Honourable Court.

She noted that  “And for such further or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

According to her , the affidavit in support of the Motion Ex parte deposed to by Benedict Ikegbulam, male, Nigeria, Christian and General Secretary of Pulp Paper and Paper Product Printing and Publishing Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PPAPPPAPSSAN) of No 6B, Agunbiade Street, Oke Koto, Agege,Lagos state will be looked into.

Similarly on the matter, Comrade Timothy Adewale , Sola lji for the Claimants/Applicants,(Ambassador) with Femi Abimbola for the Defendant and Johnson Esezoobo with Vivian Duru for party sought to be joined.

The court hereby grant the Interlocutory order as prayed on the claimant’s motion paper dated and filed on l6th of June 2022.

 

Other unions in the case include as applicants and claimants: The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff NMNOWTSSA, Senior Staff Association of Shipping, Clearing and Forwarding Agencies, Pulp Paper and Paper Product Printing and Publishing Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PPAPPPAPSSAN), Automobile Boatyard, Transport, Equipment and all Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (AUTOBATE), Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATTSSSAN), Precision Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association(PERESSA).

 

Others are Shop and Distributive Trade Senior Staff Association (SHOPDIS), Textile Garment and Tailoring Engineer Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (TGTSSAN),  and Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospital, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTH).

Recall that TUC, the second labour centre in Nigeria, has been enmeshed in crisis over its leadership’s moves to throw open for a contest the position of its President, contrary to the resolution of its NDC held on June 28, 2019, at NAF Centre, Abuja.