NITDA N500m suit: Workers opt for settlement
NAN-H-61
Settlement
By Magdalene Ukuedojor
Abuja, March 21, 2017 (NAN) The 245 workers who dragged the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to court over the status of their employment have opted for settlement.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday at the National Industrial Court, Abuja, NITDA’s lawyer, Mr Ibrahim Attahir, said discussions were on to amicably resolve the issues.
He urged the court to grant them more time to explore other settlement options in the matter.
The claimants’ counsel, Mr Wilfred Akenuwa, also confirmed that discussions were ongoing to address the workers’ grievances.
The judge, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, commended the two counsel for their role in the matter, noting that the court encourages amicable settlement.
He adjourned the case till May 30, and implored the workers to maintain peace while pursuing their rights.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), recalls that the 245 workers in January dragged NITDA to court over their employment status.
They alleged that they were duly employed, offered letters of employment and documented according to Civil Service Rules in 2015.
The workers also sought for N500millon damages over a publication by the agency in 2016 cancelling their employment.
They held that they awaited their postings since 2015, only to be stalled by an advertisement by the agency in 2016, claiming that their employment was cancelled.
They therefore, sought the order of the court to declare the said publication cancelling the recruitment as “unknown to law, illegal, null and void and of no effect.’’
They also prayed the court to declare that all the claimants recruited were entitled to all rights, privileges, emoluments and salaries pertaining to staff conditions of service of the defendant. (NAN)
MUK/KOLE/OU
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Edited by Remi Koleoso/Obike Ukoh
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