National Industrial Court, NIC, has ordered the management of Gaskiya Textile Mill Kano, to immediately pay a total of N128, 394,220.33 to its former workers and the National Union of Textile and Garment, Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN for legitimate gratuity and outstanding union dues.

The court, presided over by Justice F. L. Kola-Olalere, upheld earlier ruling of Industrial Arbitration Panel, AIP, which in 2010 ruled against the management of the company for unilaterally shutting down the company in 2005 without paying the workers their entitlements.

At a briefing in Lagos, NUTGTWN, while commending NIC under the leadership of its President, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, called on the apex industrial court, to ensure the enforcement of this commendable judgement immediately

Speaking on behalf of the union, its President, Dele Hunsu, said NIC also awarded the cost of N30,000 against the management of Gaskiya Textile Mills Plc, Kano, explain that “Gaskiya Textile Mill unilaterally closed down operation in 2005 without settlement of the entitlements of the workers as well as outstanding union dues.  When all entreaties to management to settle her liabilities to the workers and the union failed, the union petitioned the then Minister of Labour and Productivity,

Dr. Hassan Muhammed Lawal who promptly referred the matter to the Industrial Arbitration Panel (IAP) in January 2008.”

The IAP in March 2010 issued Award in favour of the union compelling the management of Gaskiya Textile Kano to settlement the outstanding entitlements of the workers as well as the union dues.  Following the notice of objection of the IAP Award by the management of Gaskiya Textile, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, in the exercise of the powers conferred on him referred the matter to the NIC in June 2010.  Hearing on the matter commenced in June 2011.”

He commended “the workers of Gaskiya Textile Mill Kano for their continuous patience in spite of the untold hardship as a result of non-payment of their entitlements by a recalcitrant management.”