>
Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Ibadan Division, has fixed January 31, 2023, to hear the substantive suit and rule on a motion to consolidate all the 22 suits filed by the sacked staff of BOWEN university, Iwo, Osun State.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, December 7, counsels to the 22 applicants told the court that they filed the motion for consolidation of the suits in July 2021, but dated March 3, 2022.
They said all parties have agreed that the 22 suits should be consolidated since it is the same matter and same parties that are involved.
Counsel to the defendant, BOWEN university, K.W. Bankole, did not object to the consolidation of the suits.He, however, asked the court to note some junior staff, who he said were part of the applicants but had been paid off.
In her ruling, Justice Opeloye Ogunbowale, said the motion for the consolidation of all the suits and hearing of the substantive case would be considered together.
She subsequently adjourned hearing of the case to January 31, 2023.
Recall that in December 2019, and June 2020, 147 staff were laid off by BOWEN university without payment of their entitlements and benefits.This prompted 22 out of the disengaged staff to file separate suits at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in July 2021.
They claimed that most of them were pioneer staff of the institution and are therefore qualified for entitlements and benefits.
