Economy: Court stops NULGE from deducting council workers in Akwa Ibom
By Dennis Udoma, Uyo
The National Industrial Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state has restrained the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in the state to rescind from deducting members’ salaries for the purpose of building a social centre for the union.
NULGE President, Comrade Anestina Iweh and Secretary Comrade Ofonne Christopher Chidi it was gathered, had issued a circular in February to inform members plans to deduct their salaries to aid the planned event centre project after they had notified chairmen of councils of the deduction.
But some concerned Staff of the Unified Local Government were said to have approached the National Industrial Court presided in Uyo seeking Ex-Parte order to stop the union Executive from implementing the circular and directing council chairmen to deduct members for the project.
The deductions according to them, will aggravate more hardship experienced by workers under the present economic climate adding that, Section 5(4) of labour Act 2005 says: “no salary or wages of any staff shall be deducted 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”.
In a suit number NICN/UY/09/ 2024 filed by the concerned staff of local government councils and made available to newsmen in Uyo on Sunday, the aggrieved workers prayed the court to stop such deductions because of the prevailing economic hardship occasioned by hyper-inflation.
They prayed the court to dismiss such deductions as it was contrary to provisions of NULGE constitution in rule 20(iii) 2016 as amended, 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 the Local Government Service Commission.
The aggrieved workers in the motion had reminded the court that, the Union has a befitting edifice along Abak Road in Uyo, urging the court to stop plans to build another one with workers salary despite the prevailing economic hardship faced by workers in the country.
Justice S. H. Danjidda in his rulling granted an interim injunction against the deduction of salary of local government workers in tbe state pending determination of the substantive suit.
” After the hearing, counsels to the claimants, Itohowo Ibe- Bassey Esq, Ekemini Ikpe Esq and Ifiok Akpanafia Esq moved 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 ” and the case was adjourned to 15th of May ,2024.
