Court orders Kogi gov’t to pay workers over N338m salary arrears

The National Industrial Court in Abuja has ordered the Kogi State Government and Kogi State Transport Company Limited to pay 131 workers of the company it forced to go on compulsory leave over N338 million. The court, presided over by Justice Agbakoba, further ordered that a monthly salary in the sum of N4.9m be paid […]

The National Industrial Court in Abuja has ordered the Kogi State Government and Kogi State Transport Company Limited to pay 131 workers of the company it forced to go on compulsory leave over N338 million.

The court, presided over by Justice Agbakoba, further ordered that a monthly salary in the sum of N4.9m be paid to the claimant’s members from January 2017 until the appointments of the workers are determined.

The court also awarded a cost of N500,000 against the defendants.

The court ruling was a result of a suit filed by the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) against the Kogi State Government, Kogi State Transport Company Limited and Attorney General of Kogi State over the locking out of its members in Kogi State Transport Company (Kogi Travellers) since June 30, 2011 without payment of their salaries and allowances.

The suit was filed by AUPCTRE on February 1, 2017 through the claimant’s lawyers, Aduojo Abah and Aghahowa Aigovo, after they sought the intervention of Kogi State House of Assembly which mandated its committee on transportation to investigate and report to the plenary.

“The committee conducted public hearing where stakeholders were invited. The committee made recommendations to the plenary that the salaries and allowances of the workers be paid from budgetary provisions, but the Kogi State Government refused to pay the outstanding salaries and allowances from August, 2011 till date of commencement of the suit, despite several demands and protests,” the claimants said.