By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has ordered the Cross River State Government to pay the sum of N35.5 million to workers of the Waste Management Agency who were sacked without payment of their entitlements in 2016.
The judgement delivered on Wednesday comes five years after the affected workers, who were laid off without notice or settlement of their backlog of salaries, sought legal redress.
Accordingly, the workers were abruptly stopped from work by the agency’s then newly appointed manager in June 2016. Despite repeated appeals through letters, courtesy visits and peaceful protests, they were ignored by the state government.
Human rights lawyer, F. Baba Isa, who took up the case pro bono, confirmed the judgement in a statement he made on Facebook on Thursday, expressing appreciation to the court and urging the current administration to speedily comply.
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“We wanted more… but we thank the Court and we thank God,” Isa said. “We pray that the government of Apostle Senator Prince Otu, who seems to be different from the past, will quickly pay the workers this money and even do more for them.”
Isa noted that the workers endured severe hardship during the protracted legal battle, with some losing their lives due to poverty and untreated illnesses.
“Most of them still alive are barely alive, they cannot pay their rent, they cannot feed their families, they cannot treat their diseases. They need help. Urgent help,” he added.
The court’s decision is seen as a long-awaited victory for the affected workers, many of whom have been unable to meet basic needs since their dismissal nearly a decade ago.
