Court orders reinstatement of TUC chief in Ekiti

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) has nullified the demotion and compulsory retirement of former Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman in Ekiti State, Mr. Kolawole Olaiya, by the state government. The court also ordered that Olaiya be reinstated to his position as the Principal Legal Officer in the state civil service. The court held that the former TUC chief was not given a fair hearing by an Administrative Panel of Inquiry which investigated him for alleged involvement in partisan politics. Delivering the judgment in the suit filed by Olaiya, Justice Oyebiola Oyeyoju Oyewumi also ordered that the claimant be paid all his salaries and allowances from February 22, 2016 when he was unlawfully retired till the date of his reinstatement. The judge also restrained the defendants from preventing the claimant from carrying out his duties as a civil servant in the state. Olaiya’s prayer that he be paid N5 million damages was, however, refused by the court which held that doing so will amount to double compensation after granting a relief that his salaries and allowances be paid from the date of termination of his appointment.]]>