Jonathan signs National Industrial Court Bill, condemns incessant strikes

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday expressed his displeasure over the recent spate of strikes by some labour and professional unions in parts of the country.

In his short remark after signing into law the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Third Alteration Bill, 2010, which formally establishes the National Industrial Court as a court of superior record, said strike ought to be the last resort for workers to push their demands through and not the other way round as the case in the country.

The assent was witnessed by Vice President Namadi Sambo; the Senate Leader, Chief Teslim Folarin; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed; Ministers of Justice, Bello Adoke; Labour, Emeka Nwogu; and the president of the Industrial Court, Justice, Babatunde Adejumo.

President Jonathan said: “It is my hope that with the constitutional establishment of the National Industrial Court, we have institutionalised the process for quick, fair and efficient resolution of disputes relating to labour, employment, industrial relations, workmen compensation, child labour, discrimination, pensions, health and safety in the workplace,” President Jonathan said.

Meanwhile, barely an hour after the signing of the third amendment of the 1999 constitution, the Coordinator of the Campaign for Labour Justice Reform, Enobong Etteh has said Nigerian workers and their employers would have cause to smile as labour matters have fallen into the exclusive jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court (NIC).

Etteh, who spoke to journalists in Lagos yesterday, described it as victory for Nigerian workers who have always embarked on tortuous journey for redress over wrong doing in the places of work.

He said: “What this implies is that the Federal and State High Courts have today been constitutionally divested of jurisdiction to handle all forms of labour, industrial and employment matters.”