The management of Gaskiya Textile Mill, Kano has been ordered by the National Industrial Court to pay N128.3m to its former workers and the National Union of Textile and Garment, Tailoring Workers of Nigeria as gratuity and union dues.
In its judgment, the court, which was presided over by Justice F. L. Kola-Olalere, upheld the 2010 ruling by the Industrial Arbitration Panel, which said the management of the company was wrong in unilaterally shutting down the company in 2005 without paying the workers their entitlements.
The union, while praising the judgment of the NIC and its leadership, however, urged the court to make sure that its judgment was enforced.
NUTGTWN President, Dele Hunsu, said, “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 in January 2008.”
In March 2010, the IAP ruled in favour of the union and directed the management of Gaskiya Textile to pay the entitlements of the workers and the outstanding dues of the union.