By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna
Kaduna State has constituted a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the NLC strike of May 2021with the sole aim to examine the action in line with the law establishing NLC Acts.
The panel has a retired judge, two former state attorneys-general and a former assistant general secretary of the NLC.Justice Ishaq Bello, a retired Chief Judge of the FCT as members.
The seven member panel includes Eyo Ekpo, former Attorney-General of Cross River State, and Mrs. Joan Jatau-Kadiya, a former Attorney-General of Kaduna State. Another member is Chom Bagu, who was Assistant General Secretary of the NLC and deputy National Secretary of the NUJ.
A Kaduna State Government statement, signed by Muyiwa Adekeye (Special Adviser on Media & Communication to the Governor), stated that the Judicial Commission of Inquiry is constituted based on the 1999 Constitution and the Commissions of Inquiry Law CAP 34, Laws of Kaduna State1991.
According to the statement, the Inquiry has 14 terms of reference. It is charged to ascertain the legality of the warning strike, the actions of various persons and organisations and determine whether such actions amount to any breach of of the Trade Union Act, the Trade Disputes Act, the Trade Disputes (Essential Services) Act, the Miscellaneous Offenses Act, the Quarantine Act, the Public Health Law and Penal Code Law of Kaduna State and other laws.
The Inquiry will also ascertain the economic losses incurred during the strike, assign responsibility for actions and make recommendations for appropriate actions, including civil remedies, criminal prosecution and policy measures.
Section 7 of the Commissions of Inquiry Law grants the Judicial Commission of Inquiry the power to summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence and to issue a warrant to compel the attendance of anyone so summoned.
