The fight to unseat Ayuba Wabba as the president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is still raging. The National Industrial Court was told on Thursday that efforts to settle the matter out-of-court failed to yield desired result. As some members who were dissatisfied with the emergence of Wabba as the congress’ president on March 14, 2015, vowed to fight on.
Comrades George Kaiserye and Tubotamuno Alalibo, members of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Akuku-Toru Local Government Area (LGA) and Degema LGA branches, who initiated the suit, told the court that Wabba refused to participate in all the meetings called to settle the matter out of court. “We are not against settlement,” Kaiserye said.
Kaiserye, Alalibo and MHWUN Akuku-Toru and Degema LGA branches, as first to fourth claimants, prayed the court to determine among others, whether by virtue of rules 6(c) and 7(x) of NLC’s constitution, Wabba’s term as president of MHWUN had not lapsed in March 2013, two years before seeking nomination, contesting and winning the election that brought him into office as NLC president.
The applicants are also seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining Wabba from further parading himself or continuing to act as president of the NLC.
Joined as co-defendants with Wabba are MHWUN, NLC, Minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity and registrar of Trade Unions.
Counsel to the first and second defendants, Mr. S. A. Oladipupo, agreed that efforts at settlement were made by Wabba, but that no headway was reached.“The first and second defendants filed counter affidavits. Written addresses have also been filed. We are set for hearing,” he said.
President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, granted claimant’s counsel’s request for an extension of time to enable the applicant reply the counter affidavit and written addresses.Justice Adejumo also moved hearing to Abuja and adjourned till February 16.
By Dike Onwuamaeze