The National Industrial Court has adjourned Niger State Government suit against the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and other unions to July 21.
The judge, Justice Peter Lifu, said on Friday that justice demands that the suit be adjourned to enable all parties appear for the hearing.
Lifu said the suit would be heard by the vacation judge and ordered that fresh hearing notices be served on the respondents.
The respondents were absent.
Counsel to the claimant, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), decried the absence of the respondents, even when they had been served with hearing notices.
Okutepa said by their absence, they have showed a great disrespect to the court.
He said: “The defendants chose to stay away from the court even when served with all the processes, including the order of this court.
“They decided to ignore the court order and did exactly what the order prevented them from doings.”
He urged the court to initiate contempt proceeding against the respondents.
Okutepa also urged the court to extend the interim order.
But, Lifu declined, holding: “Do I have to extend the order that has not expired?”
Lifu held that the order “still has the lifespan of seven days before it expires”.
He adjourned the case till July 21 for the hearing of the motion on notice.
The court on July 12 restrained the NLC, TUC and other unions from embarking on a planned strike pending the determination of the motion on notice.
But the unions embarked on the strike on July 13 to protest the salary cut by the state government.
In another development, the court adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice filed by aggrieved staff of Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kaduna and Auchi Polytechnic cases till July 20.
Trending
- Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger form new confederation after exiting ECOWAS
- Traders, customers flee as soldiers invade Abuja plaza + Video
- Youth leader advocates ministry for youth unemployment in Ebonyi
- Enhancing disaster resilience through prevention, mitigation, and preparedness, by Kenechukwu Aguolu
- How I became involved in pornography – Pastor Oyedepo
- Minister of Information congratulates newly-elected APRA executives
- Seven injured, cows die in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway accident
- FG constitutes Governing Councils of tertiary institutions + Full list