TUC LEADERSHIP TUSSLE: Industrial Court Adjourns Case To 4th August For Hearing

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria , Lagos Division on Tuesday , adjourned for hearing the case between Trade Union Congress (TUC) as defendant against the Association of Senior Staff Bank , Insurance, and Financial Institution ( ASSBIFI) and nine other affiliate union as plaintiff to the 4th of August 2022 over issues bothering on leadership crisis.

Recall that the court had suspended the forthcoming 12th triennial delegate conference and elections of Trade Union Congress (TUC) from holding over leadership tussle, penultimate weeks.

At the sitting on Tuesday 19th July 2022, Presiding Judge, Justice Rabi Gwandu of the Lagos Judicial Division , National Industrial Court, ordered that all motions , counter claims and responses would be heard and dealt with on the aforementioned date following the inclusion of some affiliate unions in support to the defendants.

Hon. Gwandu said the plaintiff is entitled to seek reactions due to the short notices from the defendant inclusion of other parties , which should have been a 7- day notice.

The Judge, however, added that the matter should be adjourned for hearing on the 4th August 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).

Similarly, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) are the new entry as defendants of the case.

Addressing Journalists after the court sitting, Counsel to the plaintiff, Barrister Timothy Adewale described the defendant’s action as indolent and appalling, saying, the late application on inclusion of the two unions in the suit should have come earlier than a day to court sitting.

Adewale noted that “By virtue of the court, we are entitled to seven days notice but we were just served that notice yesterday. And that is why we stood up to say that will not happen today because we need to react.

“Our next line of action is to file a response to the frivolous application filed to the court and ordinarily, anyone that come with equity must come with clean hands”, Barrister Adewale maintained.

By Roland Ekama