Former employees of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who were dismissed in a series of mass termination of appointments earlier in 2024, have now have set off a legal battle with the apex bank. The retrenched staff alleged that the apex bank violated internal policies, Nigerian labour laws, and their contractual rights.
Represented by Stephen Gana and 32 others, the claimants filed a class-action lawsuit at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja. In the court document, they claimed that their termination exercise, issued through letters titled “Reorganisational and Human Capital Restructuring”, 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.
They further contended that the termination letters, issued on the grounds of “restructuring,” were arbitrary, unlawful, and unconstitutional.
The dismissed employees are seeking judicial declarations that their terminations are null, void, and of no effect, insisting that they remain employees of the apex bank.
They also demanded their immediate reinstatement, payment of salaries and benefits from the date of termination, and a restraining order against any further attempts by the CBN to dismiss them outside due process.
The originating summons, filed 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. They further contended that the termination letters, issued on the grounds of “restructuring,” were arbitrary, unlawful, and unconstitutional.
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. They are also seeking N30 billion in general damages for psychological distress, hardship, and reputational harm caused by the dismissal. They have also requested a further N500 million as the cost of the suit.
The court acknowledged the defendant’s preliminary objection, filed on 4 November 2024, challenging the suit’s admissibility. The claimants responded with a counter-affidavit, which their counsel confirmed had been served. Justice Obaseki Osaghae however adjourned the matter to January 29, 2025 for the hearing of the preliminary objection or to review the progress of any settlement discussions.
The termination of appointments, conducted in four batches between March and May 2024, left many employees financially devastated. Some workers claimed that they received severance payments as low as N5,000, while others claim their gratuities were absorbed entirely to offset outstanding loans. So far, 218 employees are said to have been affected by the mass terminations that took place between March and May 2024.