Court grants final adjournment for settlement in ABU, staff members’ suit

The National Industrial Court on Tuesday granted a final adjournment for settlement in a suit filed 110 staff members and the management of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

Justice Rakiya Haastrup made the pronouncement when Mr Femi Adedeji, counsel to the 110 staff prayed for another adjournment in the matter that was slated for report of settlement.

Adedeji stated that the adjournment would enable parties get the required documents to aid the settlement process.

”On the last adjourned date my Lord, we notified the court that we will join force with the applicant to aid the settlement process.

“On Thursday, my principal and I met with the Executive Secretary of PTAD and we were assured that we will get the documents.

“In addition, the ES promised us that we will get the documents within one week”, the counsel added.

Dr. Abubakar Is’haq on his part informed the court that he met with Adedeji earlier and that they agreed to still go over to PTAD’s office later in the day.

The court in response asked if there were pending applications and Adedeji replied that there is a committal proceeding application pending before the court.

He however added that considering the present situation as regards settlement, that it will not be possible to take the application as parties were doing all they could to resolve the issue.

The court in its ruling for the adjournment application stated that this will be the last adjournment that will be granted.

The court further submitted that if by next adjourned date parties fail to come back with progress, that the court will use its discretionary power to proceed accordingly.

Haastrup in addition said that the court will do the needful by taking pending application in the absence of tangible progress on the next adjourned date.

The court therefore adjourned the matter until July 17, for report of settlement

From facts, the appointments of 110 ABU staff were terminated in 1996, however as part of the order of the court, the institution converted the termination letters to reinstatement or retirement letters as applicable to each staff.

The parties as part of terms of settlement have agreed on arrears of salary computations, but have failed to reach an agreement on the pension and gratuity computations.

Parties are however seeking documents from PTAD that will correct the discrepancies in the computations that is causing the disagreement.