Former staff of BOWEN University, Iwo, Osun State, who were disengaged from the service of the institution on Tuesday have told National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Ibadan Division that their disengagement was illegal.
They noted that they are entitled to some benefits (money), having served the institution for certain number of years as stated in their letters of appointment.
Recall that 147 teaching and none teaching staff of BOWEN University were sacked between December 2019 and June 2020.
Speaking with journalists in Ibadan after the hearing of the case, one of the affected staff who pleaded anonymity said the institution claimed that collegiate system and the organisation attached to it warranted their disengagements.
“NUC is yet to approve the said collegiate system the institution claimed”, they said.
They lamented that some of the affected staff were already at the peak of their careers, while others were approaching their retirement age.
“We felt cheated and we want justice because the process of our disengagement was illegal, our letters of appointment were till our retirement”, they added.
In his remarks, Counsel to the claimant, Ibrahim Ojo said his clients were seeking redress in court so that their former employers (BOWEN) can grant them their entitlements and benefits.
“The matter was slated for hearing today, but due to failure of Councel to BOWEN to file and serve their processes, the case was stalled and this necessitated adjournment of the case by Justice Opeloye Ogunbowale to May 31, 2022.
“The court also awarded N55,000 against BOWEN for their failure to do what they ought to have done”.
