The National Industrial Court (NIC), has ruled in favour of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) against the Grand Cereals Nigeria Limited and its sister company, Spring Waters Nigeria Limited, over indiscriminate and unlawful sack of 28 workers in their employ.
The court, sitting in Abuja delivered its ruling in favour of the union, in a matter that had spanned a period of three years before the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) and the NIC.
In the ruling delivered by Hon. Justice O.Y. Anuwe of the NIC in Suit Number NICN/ ABJ/325/2016, the NIC granted relief that: “Twenty-Eight (28) of FOBTOB members whose employments were terminated and prematurely retired on account of belonging to the union and engaging in union activities,are all to be immediately reinstated.
” In the case, which had Barrister Femi Aborishade as counsel to FOBTOB was , the NIC further ruled that both Grand Cereals Nigeria Limited and Spring Waters Nigeria Limited should pay the arrears in salary and allowances of all the 28 terminated employees from the date of their termination up till the day judgment was given.
The salary arrears, however, should less any amount that may have been paid as redundancy or terminal benefits when the appointment of the workers were discriminatorily terminated.
The companies were also ordered to pay the backlog of check-off dues to FOBTOB for the last three (3) years.
Speaking on the development, National President of FOBTOB, Comrade Quadri Olaleye described the judgement as a great victory for the association, and a great relief to the affected members and their dependent families.
He pointed out that the affected workers had been deprived of their human dignity and constitutional right by the two sister companies located in Jos.
Comrade Olaleye further stated that the case was a clear signal to other employers currently victimising union members and executives.
He listed such companies to include; Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Perfetti Van Melle Nigeria Limited, and International Tobacco Company, stressing that the association would leave no stone unturned in the fight for justice for any cadre of its membership.
Also speaking, General Secretary of the association, Comrade Iji Solomon, said the association was satisfied with the NIC ruling.
The Government of Japan and the International Labour Organisation have signed a US$1 million agreement to support sustainable economic growth and peace in The Gambia through employment generation and development of infrastructures.
Since 2017, Gambia has been undergoing a difficult political transition, characterised by post-election violence and an ensuing worsening economic outlook.
The country has witnessed a further decrease in GDP growth which was already low under the previous government, and also suffered from the recent Ebola crisis.
According to report in 2017, the unemployment rate was at 29.8 per cent, 38.6 per cent for women and reaching as much as 43.
9 per cent for youth.
Responding to these urgent needs, the Japan-funded project will generate employment opportunities in infrastructure construction works to help prepare Gambian society for sustained peace.
The project will maximise employment opportunities through employment-intensive investment programmes, building on the ILO’s 40-year long experience in that field.
Particular attention will be paid to Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), as well as to the inclusion of women, returnees, refugees and migrants.
In order to ensure sustainable impact, technical and vocational training will be provided, together with support for labour market entrants, enterprise creation, and capacity development for both private and public actors in construction-related sectors.
The project will be implemented by the ILO’s Employment Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment of The Gambia (MOTIE), and with the NGO Community Road Empowerment (CORE), a pioneer in innovative road technologies from Japan.
The project is part of the Jobs for Peace and Resilience (JPR) flagship programme of the ILO and also contributes to the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth.
It directly relates to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and especially to goals 8 “Decent Work and Economic Growth”, 5 “Gender Equality”, 9 “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure”, 10 “Reduced Inequalities” and 16 “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
