The National Industrial Court in Ibadan has fixed June 25 for ruling on the application filed by the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers to restrain Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and others from conducting verification exercise for payment of their benefits.

The five former PHCN workers, who instituted the case on behalf of others, are: Gbenga Oduwole, Joseph Babatunde, Micheal Borokini, Adeniyi Siyanbola and Ajayi Olusola.

The respondents in the suit include: BPE, National Council on Privatisation (NCP), Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO), National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Company (SSAEAC).

The claimants, who were disengaged in Oct. 31, 2013 when PHCN was privatised and unbundled into several companies, instituted the case after realising that the amount that they were to be paid as their severance allowances fell short of what was agreed upon.

They, therefore, urged the court to compel the defendants to pay their severance allowances, in line with the agreement of the Sumonu committee report, which was an embodiment of the aggregate of their benefits.

The claimants’ counsel, Mr Kazeem Abimbola, on Thursday, moved the application, urging the court to restrain the defendants from conducting verification exercise for the payment of the claimants’ 16 months severance benefits, pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

Abimbola prayed the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, either by themselves, agents, allied and any other person from further conducting the verification exercise, pending the determination of the matter.

He said that the application was supported by a written address, exhibits, further affidavit as well as a written address on points on law and relied on them all.

Abimbola urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice.
Counsel to NELMCO, Mrs Aina Job, informed the court that had she filed a counter-affidavit to the claimants’ application, supported with a written address and relied on it.

Job urged the court to refuse the claimants’ application in the interest of justice.
The BPE and NCP Counsel, Mrs Yetunde Olowoyeye, however, informed the court that she did not filed any counter application.

Counsels to NUEE and SSAEAC, Messrs Chukwe Atewe and A. Afolayan respectively, relied on the submissions of counsel to NELMCO.

Justice Muhammed Yakubu, after listening to the arguments of the counsels to all the parties, adjourned the matter till June 25 for ruling on the application.