65 workers seek damages, reinstatement over unjust dismissal

About 65 workers of Firmus Integrated Resources, Ilorin, Kwara State, have dragged their employer to Court, following the refusal of the company to reinstate and or pay them after asking the workers to stay back at home.

The workers who have cried out for their employer for their reinstatement into the company opted for legal action after the company who asked them to stay back at home since 2017 failed to pay them their outstanding salaries and arrears.

The affected workers in a petition through their solicitor, Umanah Edinyanga-Abasi had in 2018 given the company 14 days ultimatum to comply with the demands.

The petition read, “Sometime in January 2017, our clients were asked to stay back at home pending their recall on the basis that the firm was putting in place and internal restructuring of its management team.

“It was understanding of our clients that their salaries and entitlements would be paid as and due while the stay at home order was to last. To date, our clients have been without payment of salaries and other entitlements ever since.

“It may interest you to note that our clients have been left in traumatizing and agonising suspense as to the fate of their employment over this period. As you must be well aware, it is not possible for our clients to start looking for and or secure alternative employments when their running employments are yet to be terminated.

“On the standpoint of the foregoing, we hereby demand the payment of outstanding salaries and arrears due to our clients in the aggregate sum of eighty-six million, ninety-eight thousand, seven hundred and forty-one naira, thirty-two kobo (N86,098,741.32).

“It will be appreciated if this money is paid within fourteen (14) days of the receipt of this letter and, furthermore, kindly let our clients know when they are to resume back in the office.

“In the event of your default to positively respond to this letter of ours, we have the instruction of our clients to embark on litigation for the purposes of securing appropriate judicial remedies and reprieves for them, and that we may have to do immediately after the expiry of the ultimatum herein without any further recourse to you.”

Following the expiration of the deadline the company was dragged before the National Industrial Court, Akure Division.

Representing the claimants, Adetola Akinsulola said “The application was filed in 2018 but it was reassigned to another judge. But all documents had been tendered. So we just readopted the documents since it is already before the court.

“During the trial, the second claimant and first witness were called to adopt the witness statement on oath. Equally, the previous documents which have been tendered were adopted.

“The court asked if we were going to re-examine the witness and we said we will not be examining. However, we need an adjournment to call in the subpoena witnesses to come and give their evidence and documents before the honourable court”

The trial Judge, Justice P. Damulak, however, adjourned to February 2, 2022, for the continuation of the trial.

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