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Sacked CBN workers head to court, demand N30bn compensation

Published

2 days ago

January 7, 2025

Sacked CBN workers head to court, demand N30bn compensation

Disengaged staff members of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who were laid off in a mass termination in 2023, have filed a lawsuit against the bank at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja.

The originating summons, filed on July 4, 2024, by 33 former employees, alleges several breaches by the CBN. The claimants argue that their constitutional right to a fair hearing was violated both before and after their terminations.

In their court filings, the former employees also accuse the CBN of contravening its internal policies, Nigerian labor laws, and the terms of their employment contracts.

They are seeking a judicial review to determine whether the termination of their appointments was lawful and in line with due process.

The claimants include Stephen Gana, Kabiru Idris, Benedict Agbo, Peter Adeyemi, John Yisa, Eleanor Ihua, and others. Represented by Okwudili Abanum in a class action lawsuit, they argued that the termination process, carried out through letters titled “Reorganisational and Human Capital Restructuring” dated April 5, 2024, contravened the CBN’s human resources policies and procedures manual as well as Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

The claimants further asserted that the termination process lacked the mandatory consultation and fair hearing required by law.

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They described the termination letters, issued under the guise of restructuring, as arbitrary, illegal, and unconstitutional.

On these grounds, the former staff members sought an order declaring their dismissal null and void.

They also requested a restraining order to prevent the CBN from terminating their employment without adhering to proper procedures.

Additionally, the claimants demanded an immediate reinstatement of their positions, with payment of salaries and benefits from the date of termination.

They cited Article 16.4.1 of the Human Resources Policies and Procedures Manual (HRPPM), which mandates consultation with the Joint Consultative Council and adherence to fair procedures before taking employment actions that adversely affect staff.

According to the claimants, the CBN flagrantly disregarded this provision, giving them only three days to vacate their positions and hand over official property.

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The group is also seeking N30bn in general damages for psychological distress, hardship, and reputational harm caused by the dismissal, as well as an additional N500m to cover the cost of the suit.

During the first mention of the case on November 20, 2024, the presiding judge, Justice O. A. Osaghae, urged both parties to pursue an amicable resolution.

“This is a new matter, mentioned for the first time. I have reviewed the processes and believe that the parties should attempt an amicable resolution of this dispute. Consequently, parties are encouraged, pursuant to Section 20 of the NICA 2006, to seek amicable settlement,” Justice Osaghae said.

The CBN, represented by a legal team led by Inam Wilson (SAN), informed the court of a preliminary objection to the claimants’ suit filed on November 4, 2024.

The CBN’s counsel also noted that they had recently been served with the claimants’ response to the objection.

Following submissions by the defendant’s counsel, Justice Osaghae adjourned the case to January 29, 2025, for a hearing on the preliminary objection.

It should be recalled that in 2024, the apex bank terminated the appointments of approximately 1,000 staff in four batches between March and May.

Some affected staff claimed they received severance payments as low as N5,000, while others said their gratuities were entirely absorbed to offset outstanding loans.

Although the layoff was officially attributed to “reorganisation and human capital restructuring,” the affected staff argued that the process violated the CBN Act, which requires board approval for significant employment decisions.

On December 4, 2024, the apex bank stated that its early exit package was entirely voluntary and came without negative repercussions for eligible staff.

Sacked CBN workers head to court, demand N30bn compensation

Related Topics:CBN workers compensation court Featured

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Tinubu splits Nigerian Aviation College into six campuses

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January 8, 2025

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Tinubu splits Nigerian Aviation College into six campuses

President Bola Tinubu has announced the division of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Kaduna State, into six campuses.

The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) shared this development on Wednesday through its official X account.

“President Bola Tinubu has decided to split the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria–Kaduna State, into six campuses to ensure efficiency, national coverage, and smooth operations,” the post stated.

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According to the APC Ondo State chapter, the six campuses will be distributed across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.

The campuses will be located in Akure (Southwest), Osubi (South-South), and Ebonyi (Southeast), while others will be established in Ilorin (North Central), Yola (Northeast), and Zaria (Northwest).

Tinubu splits Nigerian Aviation College into six campuses

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How Iraqi taskmaster maltreated Nigerian lady – NAPTIP DG

Published

11 hours ago

January 8, 2025

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Binta Adamu Bello

How Iraqi taskmaster maltreated Nigerian lady – NAPTIP DG

The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Binta Adamu Bello, has shared the story of a human trafficking victim who was maltreated by her taskmaster in Baghdad, Iraq.

The DG of NAPTIP said the victim, Miss Odunayo Eniola Isaac, was assigned to work for an Iraqi family of eight, working 20 hours daily with little or no rest.

She said Miss Isaac’s ordeal started when she requested to be paid after working for four months.

According to the DG, each time Miss Isaac asked for her remuneration or spoke about it, she suffered a beating which resulted in bleeding and bodily injuries.

She added that, at one point, Miss Isaac’s employer bound her hands and feet and threw her into the dogs’ cage until 3 am before she was released to continue with her work.

Miss Isaac arrived in Nigeria from Baghdad a few days ago following a viral video and media reports that escalated her ordeal in the hands of the Iraqi taskmaster.

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Her return was facilitated by NAPTIP in collaboration with other partners, including members of civil society organizations and foreign agencies.

Following her traumatic experience, the NAPTIP boss directed officers of the Counselling and Rehabilitation Department of the Agency and Operatives of the Intelligence and International Cooperation Unit (IICU) to commence a comprehensive rehabilitation programme for Miss Isaac.

She also charged the officers to conduct counselling and interview sessions with Miss Isaac to ascertain her medical status, the nature of assistance needed, and her immediate psychosocial need.

The DG, while receiving Miss Isaac at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja, expressed sadness over the traumatic experience and the hardship she faced.

The Director General, in a statement by the Press Officer of the agency, Vincent Adekoye, said: “I just finished interaction with the victim. I must say that she had a close shave with death and we are all happy that she is alive to tell her painful story.

“On 22nd January 2023, she left Nigeria and arrived in Baghdad, Iraq the next day; 23rd January 2023 and was received at the Airport by officials of WB Warani Manpower (Company she was registered to work for). She was taken to the hospital on the 24th of January, 2023, to certify she was medically fit for the job she would be assigned to do.

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“Her Iraqi Agent, Alhaja Shakirat Yusuf, whom she knows as only ‘Mama Uganda’, came to WB Warani Manpower to sign her in officially on the 25th January 2023 and was assigned to work for an Iraqi family of eight (six children and two parents) on 29th of January 2023. Her work hours span about twenty hours a day, with little or no resting time.

“According to Miss Odunayo, after one month of work, she requested her salary, and her madam said that, because of the high commission in paying money into Nigeria accounts, she would be paid every two months, and she agreed, but after four months, and she still was not paid. Her ordeal then began when she dared to request payment.

“Her phone was confiscated to prevent communication with members of her family. Each time she asked for her remuneration or spoke about it, she suffered a beating resulting in bleeding and bodily injuries. That, at one point, her madam bound her hands and feet and threw her into the dogs’ cage until 3 am before she was released to continue with her work.

“Because of her level of exploitation and trauma, I have directed the relevant department and operatives of the Agency to commence immediate profiling, interview, and the comprehensive process of rehabilitation for her. This is to enable the Agency to assess her medical status, the nature of assistance and skills needed, and to design a part of ensuring her reunion with her family”.

The DG assured that NAPTIP would do the needful to ensure justice for her.

She urged the youths and parents to be careful before jumping at enticing job offers abroad.

“I wish to use this opportunity to thank all our partners, the Federal Ministry of Foreign, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Embassies and Nigeria Mission abroad, other partnering Ministry, Department and Agencies (MDAs), Hope Haven Foundation, the Media and other stakeholders, for a successful collaboration and support which resulted in the eventual arrival of Miss Eniola Isacc.

“It is also important to advise our youths and parents to always be careful and think twice before jumping at any juicy offer of jobs abroad. Over the past few months, we have intercepted scores of youths, mostly girls, at various points of exit across Nigeria, and their destinations have been some of the volatile countries in the Middle East.

“Certainly, a dangerous journey of this nature could have been avoided with simple caution and a check from NAPTIP”, Bello said.

Miss Isaac, said: “I thank God that I am alive. I will not wish that my enemy passes through what I experienced. I never thought I could survive the painful ordeal.”