COURT OF APPEAL UPHOLDS AWARD OF 2.55 BILLION NAIRA TO DISENGAGED WORKERS OF ABU ZARIA.(PHOTO).

 The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld a N2.55 billion award to 110 disengaged workers of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, after a protracted legal battle spanning nearly three decades. 

The appellate court dismissed separate appeals filed by ABU and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), challenging an earlier decision of the National Industrial Court (NIC) that ordered the payment of the judgment sum to the affected orkers. 

The court affirmed that the workers were unlawfully disengaged by the university in 1996 and were entitled to reinstatement and payment of their accumulated salaries, allowances, and other entitlements , The dispute dates back to 1996 when the workers were disengaged from service. 

The NIC ruled in their favour in 2015, ordering ABU to reinstate the workers and pay their entitlements, which were computed at approximately 2.55 billion. The Court of Appeal's decision effectively clears the way for the enforcement of the judgment and paynment of the long-outstanding entitlements. 

The court also awarded 5 million costs each against ABU and the CBN in favour of the disengaged workers. With this ruling, the focus now shifts to compliance, as the workers await the release and disbursement of the funds in line with the court order.