No fewer than fifteen former staff of NTA-Star Television Network Limited, also known as Star Times have dragged the company before the National Industrial Court, sitting in Abuja, over unpaid N9.6million unpaid salaries and allowances.
The former staff, led by Mr. Philip Nickson and Isah Samson, through their counsel, Teslim Agboola Esq., are also praying the court for additional N5m damages for unfair labour practice.
According to the plaintiffs in suit number NICN/ABJ/365/2019, the plaintiffs prayed the court to declare that the termination of their appointment by the defendant on the ground of redundancy is mere subterfuge employed by the defendant to deny them of their full disengagement benefits and entitlement.
In the statement of facts attached to the general complaint form filed before the court, the plaintiffs said they were employed by the company at various times through various letters of appointments.
According to them, notwithstanding the fact that they were made to work under unconducive environment, they were diligent, dedicated and committed to their work during the subsistence of their employment with the defendant and were never found wanting or guilty of any misconduct in their duties.
They further told the court in the suit that before the termination of their appointment on the feigned ground of redundancy, the defendant was doing very fine and a company and all the staff actively engaged.
They said based on the terms and condition of their employments and in line with international best practice, they were entitled to be paid redundancy benefits of a sum equal to one year basic salary or an amount to be mutually determined by them and the defendant in case of termination of their appointment on the ground of redundancy.
They argued that the company, without prior agreement between them and without regard to the terms and conditions contained in her employee handbook unilaterally came up with an amount to be paid to each of them.
