The National Industrial Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital has ordered Executives of Akwa Ibom chapter of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees ( NULGE) not to implement their decision to deduct salary of her members across 31 council areas for the purpose of building an Event Centre for the union.
It was gathered that the state President of NULGE Comrade Anestina Iweh and Secretary comrade Ofonne Christopher Chidi had issued a circular in February announcing plans by the union to deduct salary of members according to their grade levels for the purpose of building an Event Centre.
Our Correspondent learnt that chairmen of local government councils in the state were notified of the planned deduction in the said circular.
But members of the union under the aegis of ‘Concerned Staff’ of the Unified Local Government systems approached the National Industrial Court presided by Justice S H Danjidda in Uyo seeking an order to stop the Executive of the Union from implementing the circular directing various councils in the state to deduct their salary for the controversial project.
They argued that such deduction will aggravate the present hardship experienced by local government staff adding that Section 5(4) of labour Act 2005 says “no salary or wages of any staff shall be noted by any union registered under part B third schedule to Trade union Act 2004 except with the written consent of staff.”
” In this case, we were not consulted nor notified of the deductions. NULGE only wake up one day with circular . It is not acceptable. We must seek interpretations of above clauses in the Union’s constitution and other extant laws ”
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In a suit number NICN/UY/09/ 2024 filed by the concerned staff of local government councils and made available to newsmen in Uyo at the weekend, the aggrieved personnel prayed the Court to stop such deductions due to prevailing economic hardship occasioned by hyper inflation.
They prayed the court to dismissed such deductions as it was contrary to the provisions of NULGE constitution in rule 20(iii) amended in 2016 which gives power to NULGE to levy the staff with caution that there should be participation by all in the decision making process.
Joined in the suit as defendants are the state President of NULGE Comrade Anestina Iweh, Secretary Ofonne Christopher Chidi, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and Local Government Service Commission respectively.
In the originating summons, the aggrieved local government workers reminded the court that the Union has a befitting edifice at Abak road in Uyo urging the court to stop plans to build another one with workers salary despite hunger and prevailing economic hardship faced by fixed income earners in the country.
In his ruling , Justice S H Danjidda granted an interim injunction against the deduction of salary of local government workers in tbe state pending determination of the substantive suit.
” After hearing Itohowo Ibe- Bassey Esq with Ekemini Ikpe Esq and Ifiok Akpanafia Esq counsel for the claimants/Applicants, move their application.
” The Claimants/Applicants Ex-Parte Application for Interim Injunction and Substituted Services dated and filed on 1st March, 2024 is granted as prayed pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice “.
Meanwhile when the matter came up for hearing last Friday, it was adjourned to 15th of May, 2024 for hearing.
