Agric Unions Commence Contempt Proceeding Against Registrar of Trade Unions

Following the alleged refusal to comply with a Court of Appeal order, two agricultural unions, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union of Nigeria (AAWUN) and Agricultural and Allied Employees of Nigeria (AAEUN), have commenced contempt proceedings against the Registrar of Trade Unions in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mrs. Nwanyieze Mbogu.

The Court of Appeal, had in a consent judgement, granted the request of the two unions to merge under a new name to be called Agricultural and Allied Union of Nigeria (AAUN).

The Court also directed the Registrar of Unions in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, to give effect to the judgement by issuing a new certificate to the new entity AAUN.

The Appellate Court had through its enrolled order, considered the terms of settlement of the parties which included the action over the merger of the applicant's union with a sister union by the first respondent, leading to the emergence of the second respondent.

The parties also agreed that the third respondent, (Bungudu) having been voted out of office as the National President of the second respondent (AAEUN) at the 2nd respondent's congress, should vacate his seat. The new executive of the 2nd respondent, it was further agreed, having met the appellants, resolved to settle the matter amicably, upon the terms and conditions pleaded before the court.

On the strength of this agreement the Court of Appeal ruled: "The application is hereby granted as prayed. In line with Order 16 Rule 4 of the Court of Appeal Rules 2011, the terms of settlement agreed upon by the parties to this appeal, is hereby adopted and incorporated as the judgement of the court in respect of this appeal".

The judgement was delivered by Justice A. Jauro of the Court of Appeal Lagos division, while the enrolled order was perfected by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, Mr. Stephen Akinyede.

Since the merger order was granted, the Registrar has not complied with the directive of the court, prompting the two unions to commence the contempt action at the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The two unions claim that the action of the Registrar raises concern, as the Federal Ministry of Justice through a letter with reference number: MIJ/LIT/AAUN/116/13/9 from the Attorney-General of the Federation, had also directed the Registrar that 'effect should be given to the judgement of the Court of Appeal’.

The letter which was signed by one I. A. Gazali on behalf of the AGF, also advised Mrs. Mbogu to 'give recognition to the Agricultural and Allied Union of Nigeria (AAUN)'.