•NLC hails industrial courtroom’s ruling on management dispute
Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Folalumi Alaran in Abuja
The Nationwide Industrial Courtroom sitting in Abuja yesterday affirmed Tajudeen Baruwa because the validly elected President of the Nationwide Union of Street Transport Staff (NURTW) for the second time period, simply because it sacked the Tajudeen Agbede-led caretaker committee.
Justice Oyebiola Oyewumi additionally restrained forthwith the previous president of the union, Najeem Yasin, who was additionally the chairman board of trustees from interfering within the day after day operating of the affairs of the union.
The presiding decide whereas delivering her judgment on the management disaster rocking the union held that the zonal delegates’ convention throughout the six zonal councils of the union held on Might 24, 2023 the place Baruwa emerged as president for a second time period in workplace was legitimate.
The courtroom additionally validated the quadrennial nationwide delegate convention held on August 23, 2023 at Ta’aL Accommodations Lafia Nasarawa State the place the president and different nationwide officers emerged and have been inaugurated.
Oyewumi declared as unlawful, null and void and unconstitutional the nationwide delegates’ convention held on October 25, 2023 the place the so-called Appearing President, Alhaji Isa Ore and his nationwide administrative council have been stated to have emerged.
She dominated that there was no proof of disaster within the union and subsequently there was no foundation for the invocation of ‘doctrine of necessity’ which led to the structure of the so-called caretaker committee.
Recall that that the Lagos State Park Administration Committee led by Musiliu Akinsanya (aka MC Oluomo) on August 28, 2023 forcefully took over the secretariat of the union positioned at Garki 2 after a violent assault on the nationwide officers and employees regardless of the armed safety brokers deployed to offer safety.
Baruwa was arrested on September 13, 2023 alongside 4 different nationwide officers of the union by the police and detained on the former facility of the Particular Anti Theft Squad ( SARS ) in Abuja
The scenario then compelled the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to provide the police 48 hours to vacate the secretariat of the union or face a shutdown
In a communiqué signed by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and Basic Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, the union threatened it could muster all its associates for a showdown in assist of what it stated is the legally elected NURTW management.
It accused the police of interfering within the inner affairs of NURTW and different unions, saying the police had usurped powers of arbitration in disputes, opposite to the dictates of statutes governing industrial relations.
In the meantime, the NLC has recommended the judgement by the Nationwide Industrial Courtroom recognising the Baruwa-led government of the union.
An announcement signed by Ajaero stated the ruling has given hope for freedom, justice and independence of thought within the judiciary.
He blamed the Ministry of Labour and Employment for not summoning the wanted braveness to make sure justice that got here the way in which of the Baruwa management.
“We on the NLC wish to commend the braveness of the Nationwide Industrial Courtroom for affirming the manager of Baruwa because the lawful management of the NURTW.
“The judgment is a tribute to the non-public qualities of the presiding decide, O. O Oyewumi in addition to the rising picture of the Nationwide Industrial Courtroom as a courtroom to reckon with, as a courtroom of justice and as a courtroom that may not readily collapse to the overbearing affect of the manager.
“At a wider degree, it’s suggestive of hope, freedom, justice and independence of thought within the judiciary for the judicial officers with requisite ability, information and braveness to take the proper selections.
“We could want to recall the illegal dislodgment of the Baruwa-led management actively aided by the police.
“Regardless of the brazenly partisan and dishonourable function performed by the police within the matter, the Ministry of Labour didn’t summon the wanted braveness to make sure justice got here the way in which of the Baruwa management,” he stated.
In response to Ajaero, regardless of authorities’s promise to have the problems resolved “in keeping with related ILO Conventions and the Nigerian Labour Act”, it did nothing.
“It was this failure that led to the matter being taken to the Nationwide Industrial Courtroom from whence got here this laudable judgment,” he added.
