The National Industrial Court, Ibadan, on Tuesday said it would on Oct.15 decide on an application filed by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) challenging the jurisdiction of the court.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that casual workers of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) numbering about 500 had sued the company and the BPE over unpaid entitlements.
The claimants’ Counsel, Ahmed Tafa, told the court that the defendants’ counsel were not in the court to move their application and urged the court to strike out the application.
According to Tafa, the case is ripe for hearing.
Justice Kola Olalere said that she could not strike out the application of the defendants because the case was not slated for hearing but for mention.
Olalere adjourned the case to Oct.15, adding that if the defendants were not in court by the next adjournment date, then necessary step would be taken on the application.
She also ordered that hearing notice be served on the defendants.
NAN reports that the casual workers storm the court premises chanting different songs and begging the Federal Government to intervene.
NAN also recalls that Tarfa had earlier told the court that the claimants were employed as contract, casual staff and corporate guards by PHCH prior to its privatisation by BPE.
He said that the claimants had met all the requirements and complied with the directive of the defendants for regularisation and re-designation from casual or contract staff to permanent staff of the PHCN as from Dec.31, 2009.
Tarfa said that the claimants were entitled to the payment of their salaries, severance packages, gratuities, pension and other entitlements as regularised staff of the PHCN.
He urged the court to direct the defendants to pay the claimants all their salaries, severance packages, gratuities, pension and other entitlements accrued as due to the employers of the PHCN. (NAN)
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