[Nigeria] Workers sue PenCom for salary denial and unlawful labour practices

Aggrieved workers from the National Pension Commission (PenCom) brought the Commission and its chairman before the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Abuja over alleged denial of salaries and unlawful labour practices, New Telegraph reports.

The workers instituted the action through human rights activist, Femi Falana SAN to seek justice from the Industrial Court.

A total of 20 employees filed the suit on behalf of themselves and others employed by the Commission in March 2017. They are reportedly challenging the Commission and its chairman before the court on the grounds of unlawful restraint from performing their statutory functions after engagement and refusal to be paid salaries and other entitlements.

The claimants, who have reportedly been employed since March 2017, resumed duties at the Commission but were later prevented from performing their statutory duties.

According to the summons, they are seeking a Court order directing the Commission to pay their salaries, arrears, and allowances from the date of their employment until the judgment of the court is complied with by the Commission; the total to be calculated using the salary structure for its employees.

The claimants also sought a declaration that - according to the provisions of section 28 and 29 of the Pension Reform Act 2014, Regulations 040102 and 130105 of the Public Service Rules - the failure of the Commission to pay them their salaries, arrears, allowances and promotion from the date of their employment until now is an unfair labour practice, discriminatory, ultra vires and in violation of the provisions of the PenCom Act and the Public Service Rules.

The Pension Commission and its chairman are first and second defendants in the suit, which has been fixed for October 13.

Aggrieved workers from the National Pension Commission (PenCom) brought the Commission and its chairman before the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Abuja over alleged denial of salaries and unlawful labour practices, New Telegraph reports.

The workers instituted the action through human rights activist, Femi Falana SAN to seek justice from the Industrial Court.

A total of 20 employees filed the suit on behalf of themselves and others employed by the Commission in March 2017. They are reportedly challenging the Commission and its chairman before the court on the grounds of unlawful restraint from performing their statutory functions after engagement and refusal to be paid salaries and other entitlements.

The claimants, who have reportedly been employed since March 2017, resumed duties at the Commission but were later prevented from performing their statutory duties.

According to the summons, they are seeking a Court order directing the Commission to pay their salaries, arrears, and allowances from the date of their employment until the judgment of the court is complied with by the Commission; the total to be calculated using the salary structure for its employees.

The claimants also sought a declaration that - according to the provisions of section 28 and 29 of the Pension Reform Act 2014, Regulations 040102 and 130105 of the Public Service Rules - the failure of the Commission to pay them their salaries, arrears, allowances and promotion from the date of their employment until now is an unfair labour practice, discriminatory, ultra vires and in violation of the provisions of the PenCom Act and the Public Service Rules.

The Pension Commission and its chairman are first and second defendants in the suit, which has been fixed for October 13.