Former staff members of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who were dismissed in a mass layoff last year have taken the apex bank to court, demanding N30 billion in compensation.
According to court documents sighted by Cable on Monday, the workers alleged that the CBN violated internal policies, Nigerian labour laws, and their contractual rights.
The claimants, represented by Stephen Gana and 32 others, filed a class action lawsuit at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja.
The workers claimed that their termination process, carried out through letters titled “Reorganizational and Human Capital Restructuring” and dated April 5, 2024, violated both the CBN human resources policies and procedures manual (HRPPM) and Section 36 of the Nigerian constitution.
READ ALSO: CBN Governor Cardoso Clarifies Departure Of 1,000 Staff, Insists They Weren’t Forced To Leave
The claimants are seeking a court ruling that their dismissals are “void and useless”.
They also sought a restraining order to prevent the CBN from firing them without following the proper procedures, immediate reinstatement, and payment of salaries and benefits from the date of termination.
In response to the lawsuit, the Presiding Judge of the industrial court, Obaseki Osaghae, encouraged both parties to explore a settlement.
“It is my view that parties should attempt an amicable resolution of this dispute,” Osaghae said.
The matter has been adjourned to January 29 for the hearing of the preliminary objection or to review the progress of any settlement discussions.
The post CBN Faces N30 Billion Lawsuit Over Mass Layoff appeared first on Information Nigeria.
Last modified: January 7, 2025
