Sacked employees sue CBN, demand reinstatement, compensation

Former staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who were sacked in a mass retrenchment in 2024 are seeking justice while demanding fair compensation.

The former CBN employees dismissed in a series of mass termination of appointments have decided to take their case to court after accusing the apex bank of violating internal policies, Nigerian labour laws, and their contractual rights.

In their pursuit of justice, they are being represented by Stephen Gana and 32 others, with the claimants filing a class-action lawsuit at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja.

The court documents claimed that their termination of employment, issued through letters titled “Reorganisational and Human Capital Restructuring”, dated 5 April 2024, contravened Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and the CBN Human Resources Policies and Procedures Manual (HRPPM).

The claimants argued that the process lacked the required consultation and fair hearing mandated by law.

The originating summons, filed pursuant to the NICN Civil Procedure Rules 2017 on 4 July 2024, outlines several questions for the court’s determination, chief among which is whether the claimants were denied their constitutional right to a fair hearing before and after the termination of their appointments.

The former CBN employees contended that the termination letters, issued on the grounds of “restructuring,” were arbitrary, unlawful, and unconstitutional.

They are seeking judicial declarations that their terminations are null, void, and of no effect, claiming that they are still members of staff of the CBN.

The sacked employees of the CBN demanded their immediate reinstatement, and payment of salaries and benefits from the date of termination.

They have also asked for a restraining order against any further attempts by the apex bank to dismiss them without following due process.

The claimants alleged that this provision was flagrantly disregarded, as they were given just three days to vacate their positions and hand over official property.

Additionally, the claimants are seeking N30 billion in general damages for psychological distress, hardship, and reputational harm caused by their dismissals from office, requesting another N500 million as the cost of the suit.

The retrenched staff reportedly argued that they enjoyed a status often referred to in labour law as “statutory flavour”.

This imposes stricter conditions on their dismissal in comparison to regular employment contracts, including adherence to public service rules and other governing statutes.

The court on 20 November 2024 urged an amicable resolution in the lawsuit.

Presiding Justice O. A. Obaseki Osaghae noted that the claimants were represented by Stephen Salawu Gana and their counsel while the CBN was represented by its legal team, headed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Inam Wilson.

Justice Obaseki Osaghae noted the case’s first mention and encouraged the two parties to explore a settlement under Section 20 of the National Industrial Court Act (NICA) 2006.

“It is my view that parties should attempt an amicable resolution of this dispute,” she stated, with the case adjourned to 29 January 2025 for the hearing of the preliminary objection or to review the progress of any settlement discussions.