Right to Strike is not Absolute- Justice Anuwe tells Labour Unions
…urged Government and Labour to respect and implement collective agreements
Hon. Justice Olufunke Anuwe of the Abuja Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court has said that the labour right to strike is not absolute. It must be exercised within the parameters of the law to ensure its legitimacy and protect the public interest.
Justice Anuwe made the remark while delivering a lecture at the Annual Workshop on Trade Unions (Amendment) Act 2005 and the Legality of Strike in Nigeria, organized by the Registrar of Trade Unions under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, held on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at the Barcelona Hotels, Wuse Abuja.
Justice Anuwe stressed that Strikes are an essential tool for workers to protect their interests, improve working conditions, and address grievances but subject to legal restrictions to balance workers’ rights with public interest and economic stability.
Justice Anuwe stated that the right to strike is not absolute and may be subject to certain limitations and exceptions, such as National Security, Public Health and Emergency situations.
Commenting on the legality of strikes in Nigeria, Justice Anuwe lectured that by recognizing and protecting the right to strike, Nigeria’s Constitution aims to balance workers’ rights with the needs of employers and the broader society, promoting fair labour practices and social justice.
While appreciating the effort of the labour unions and the Government for embracing the idea of going to court to ventilate their grievances, Justice Anuwe encouraged both government and labour to respect and implement collective agreements reached during negotiations in order not to clog the wheel of economic progress of the Country that the Court would not fail on its mandate to promote fair and equitable justice.
The Annual workshop was organized pursuant to the resolutions adopted by labour stakeholders to address current challenges and prospects of Trade Union Administration in Nigeria focusing on Best Practices for Social Partners’ Engagement in a Challenging Economy.
Leaders at various levels, Human Resource Managers, Rank & File, Trade Union Associations, Government Officials at various levels handling labour and establishment matters, Development Partners, CSOs, and NGOs were all in attendance.
