Dismissed Staff Drag CBN To Court In Legal Showdown

A legal battle is underway between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and 33 former employees who claim they were unlawfully dismissed during a mass retrenchment exercise in early 2024.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The ex-staff, led by Stephen Gana, have filed a class-action lawsuit at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja. They accuse the apex bank of breaching internal regulations, labour laws, and their contractual rights.

The termination letters, titled “Reorganisational and Human Capital Restructuring” and dated April 5, 2024, are at the center of the dispute. The claimants argue that the dismissal process violated Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and the CBN’s Human Resources Policies and Procedures Manual (HRPPM), particularly regarding consultation and fair hearing.

Alleged Breach of Procedures

The plaintiffs contend that Article 16.4.1 of the HRPPM—which mandates consultation with the Joint Consultative Council and adherence to due process before termination—was disregarded. They assert that the bank gave them only three days to vacate their positions and return official property.

Their Legal Demands

In the suit filed on July 4, 2024, the former employees seek the following:

1. A declaration that their dismissals were unlawful and unconstitutional.
2. Immediate reinstatement to their positions.
3. Payment of all salaries and benefits since the termination date.
4. A restraining order against further dismissals without due process.
5. ₦30 billion in damages for psychological distress, hardship, and reputational harm.
6. ₦500 million to cover the cost of the lawsuit.

The claimants argue that their employment contracts, having “statutory flavour,” require strict compliance with public service rules and other governing regulations. They maintain that these conditions were ignored, leading to their abrupt and unfair dismissal.