Former staff members of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who were dismissed in a mass layoff last year, have taken the apex bank to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Abuja.
The aggrieved former staff members, represented by Stephen Gana and 32 others, filed a class-action lawsuit on July 4, 2024, under the NICN Civil Procedure Rules 2017.
The claimants argue that their termination process, carried out through letters titled “Reorganisational and Human Capital Restructuring” dated April 5, 2024, violated both the CBN human resources policies and procedures manual and Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution.
They claim that the process lacked the necessary consultation and fair hearing mandated by law.
The claimants are seeking a court ruling declaring their dismissals null and void, demanding reinstatement, payment of salaries and benefits, and ₦30 billion in damages for psychological distress, hardship, and reputational harm.
Additionally, they requested ₦500 million to cover the cost of the suit and a restraining order to prevent the CBN from terminating their employment without following proper procedures.
The court has encouraged both parties to attempt an amicable resolution of the matter, and the case has been adjourned to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings or to review the progress of settlement discussions.
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