Sacked CBN staff Approach Industrial Court
By Agada Daniel, Jos
The over 200 sacked staff of Central Bank of Nigeria has approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja Judicial Division to challenge their unjust termination of service from the Apex Bank.
The Apex Bank some few months ago embarked on mass sacking of its top ranking and junior staff. A situation which generated reactions and condemnation across the country.
Having dissatisfied with CBN unlawful act, some of the victim through their Lawyers led by Ola Olanipekun SAN Team counsel approached the Industrial Court seeking for redress.
Part of the relief sought by the claimant’s counsel, Olanipekun SAN, is the reinstatement of the claimants and general damages caused by the Defendant.
It was the counsel contention that the termination of the claimant’s appointment contravene the provision section 14 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 and Articles 6,4,3(a) of Human Resource Policies and Procedure Manuel (HRPPM).
He further stated that, “we urged your Lordship to be guided by the decision of Supreme Court in the case of Marine Management Associates Inc.& ANOR vs National Marine Authority (2012) LPELR-20618(SC) where the Apex Court held this;
“The case is indeed well settled that in a case of breach of contract, which is what the present case is, the assessment of the damages is calculated on the basis of the loss was either in the contemplation of the contract or is an unavoidable consequence of the breach.
“The fact that the damages as in the present case are difficult to assess does not disentitle a claimant to compensation for loss sustained from Defendant’s conduct of breach of contract. Also the fact that the amount of such loss cannot be precisely ascertained, does not deprive a claimant of all remedy as stated by this Court in Nzeribe vs Dave Engineering Co.Ltd (1994) 8NWLR (P361) 124 at 147.”
Arising from the foregoing, also is “An order of this Honourable Court that the Defendant shall pay forthwith all monthly salaries and allowances that the Claimant would have earned in the course of his service/employment, being the sum of (N178,386,127.00) or such other sums in that regard, from the effective date of unlawful termination of his appointment up and until his due date of lawful retirement on 4th August, 2033.
“A declaration of this Honorable Court that the Claimant’s employment with the Defendant, evinced by letter Ref:PERS/CDEV/AP68/02/43 cannot be arbitrarily terminated and without recourse to the terms of the employment/appointment, the Defendant’s Human Resource Policies and Procedure Manuel and/or observance of due process of law.
“An order of this Honorable Court setting aside the purported termination of the Claimant’s employment vide letter titled ‘Re-organization’ dated 24th May, 2024, for being arbitrary, unlawful, null and void.
“An order of this Honorable Court that the Defendant shall reinstate the claimant to the position of assistant Director or other higher position, all monthly salaries, allowances and other emoluments/entitlements which he would have earned if his employment had not been unlawfully terminated, being amount of N1,621, 455.70 calculated monthly and evidenced by his salary payment; and/or such other monies in that regards as this current or subsequent promotion/grades would be entitled up and until the date of the judgment.
