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State Houses of
Assembly have voted to incorporate the National Industrial Court into
the 1999 Constitution now going through its third amendment.

The states voted overwhelmingly in support of this addition made by the National Assembly in December last year.

According to
Istifanus Gbana, chairman conference of Speakers of State Houses of
Assembly, 33 states voted in favour of the incorporation. He said this
Tuesday during a visit to the National Assembly where he submitted the
voting pattern of state assemblies to the clerk of the National
Assembly, Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa.

Mr. Gbana who is
also the speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly said he submitted
the votes of the 33 states based on an earlier deadline speakers gave
themselves to vote on the law.

He argued that the
resolution of the 33 states reflects more than the two-third majority
vote (24 states) required to pass the law. He however said he hopes
“the other states will soon send in their resolution.” with this
endorsement, the industrial court has attained the status of a high
court and appeals over its judgments will be heard and terminated at a
Court of Appeal.

The court will be
headed by a president and will be constituted by at least one judge or
at most three judges; as the president of the National Industrial Court
may direct.

The president of
the court will be appointed by the president on the recommendations of
the National Judicial Council subject to the confirmation of the senate.

History

The National
Assembly had December last year passed the third amendment to the 1999
constitution in order to fully incorporate the National Industrial
Court into the Constitution, four years after it was established.

The court was
established through an act in 2006 but according to the lawmakers has
not performed optimally because it was not listed in the 1999
constitution.

The court will
exercise jurisdiction in civil matters relating to employment, trade
unions, industrial relations and matters arising from the work place,
the conditions of service – including health, safety, and welfare of
workers, employees, and other matters incidental to it.

The court will also
preside over matters arising from the Factories Act, Trade Dispute Act,
Trade Unions Act, Labour Act, Workmen’s Compensation Act or any other
law relating to labour, employment, industrial relations, workplace or
any other related law.

The court will also determine issues concerning orders restraining
any person from taking part in any strike or any industrial action,
lock outs and (or) issues connected with any dispute arising from
national minimum wage for the federation or any part of the country.