The National Industrial Court has fixed June 25 for ruling on the application filed by the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers to restrain the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and others from conducting verification exercises to pay their benefits.

Gbenga Oduwole, Joseph Babatunde, Michael Borokini, Adeniyi Siyanbola, and Ajayi Olusola are former PHCN workers who instituted the case on behalf of others.

The respondents in the suit include BPE, the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO), the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), and the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Company (SSAEAC).

The claimants, who were disengaged on October 31, 2013, when PHCN was privatised and unbundled into several companies, instituted the case after realising that the amount they were to be paid as their severance allowances fell short of the agreed-upon amount.

Therefore, they urged the court to compel the defendants to pay their severance allowances in accordance with the agreement of the Sumonu committee report, which embodied the aggregate of their benefits.

The claimants’ counsel, Kazeem Abimbola, moved the application on Thursday, urging the court to restrain the defendants from conducting a verification exercise for the payment of the claimants’ 16-month severance benefits pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

Mr Abimbola prayed the court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, either themselves, agents, allied, or any other person, from further conducting the verification exercise pending the determination of the matter.

He said the application was supported by a written address, exhibits, further affidavit, and a written address on points of law and relied on them all.

Mr Abimbola urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice.

Counsel to NELMCO, Aina Job, informed the court that she had filed a counter-affidavit to the claimants’ application, supported by a written address, and relied on it.

Mr Job urged the court to refuse the claimants’ application in the interest of justice.

However, the BPE and NCP counsel, Yetunde Olowoyeye, informed the court that she did not file a counter-application.

Counsels to NUEE and SSAEAC, Chukwe Atewe and A. Afolayan, respectively, relied on the submissions of counsel to NELMCO.

Justice Muhammed Yakubu, after listening to the arguments of the counsels for all the parties, adjourned the matter until June 25 for a ruling on the application.

(NAN)