“Refusal Was Wrongful” — Industrial Court Orders FG, Trade Unions Registrar To Register NANTS As University Workers’ Union

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has ordered the Federal Government and the Registrar of Trade Unions to register the newly formed National Association of Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities as a trade union.

Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae delivered the judgment, holding that the refusal of the Registrar of Trade Unions and the Minister of Labour and Employment to register NANTS under the Trade Unions Act was wrongful.

The suit was filed by the university workers through Comrade Niyi Akinnibi, who asked the court to compel the government to register the association as a trade union.

The defendants in the suit were the Registrar of Trade Unions, the Minister of Labour and Employment, and the Attorney General of the Federation.

In its judgment, the court declared that the defendants were bound by law to register NANTS as a trade union under the Trade Unions Act.

The court also held that the refusal of the first and second defendants to register the association was wrongful.

“A declaration is hereby made that the defendants are bound to register the claimant’s National Association of Non-Teaching Staff of Nigerian Universities as a trade union under the Trade Unions Act,” the judgment read.

The court further made a mandatory order directing the Registrar of Trade Unions and the Minister of Labour and Employment to register the association immediately or issue it with a certificate of registration as a trade union.

Justice Obaseki-Osaghae also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, privies, assigns or any other person acting through them from denying NANTS registration as a trade union under the Trade Unions Act.

“An order of perpetual injunction is hereby made restraining the defendants, their agents, privies, assigns, or any other person or authority deriving authority from them from denying the claimant registration as a trade union under the Trade Unions Act,” the court held.

It was gathered that members of the new union pulled out of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities to form NANTS.

The association is said to have branches in federal and state universities across the country.

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