{“data”:{“os”:”ios”,”editType”:”image_edit”,”enterFrom”:”new_image”,”appVersion”:”17.2.1″,”source_type”:”vicut”,”source_platform”:”mobile_1″,”client_key”:”aw889s25wozf8s7e”,”capability_name”:”capcut_photo_editor”,”region”:”NG”,”pictureId”:”6640C87A-152F-439A-8FA7-23E04C5ABEDD”,”product”:”vicut”},”source_type”:”vicut”,”tiktok_developers_3p_anchor_params”:”{“enterFrom”:”new_image”,”pictureId”:”6640C87A-152F-439A-8FA7-23E04C5ABEDD”,”region”:”NG”,”source_type”:”vicut”,”source_platform”:”mobile_1″,”appVersion”:”17.2.1″,”editType”:”image_edit”,”client_key”:”aw889s25wozf8s7e”,”product”:”vicut”,”capability_name”:”capcut_photo_editor”,”os”:”ios”}”}
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Port Harcourt has ruled in favour of an employee, Mr. Joseph, ordering his former employer, Madrik-Uju Company Limited, to pay N1 million in outstanding employment benefits.
The court also awarded N500,000 as the cost of action.
The dispute arose from the company’s failure to pay the claimant’s hazard, gratuity, and ex gratia allowances covering the period from November 2019 to June 2020.
While the company had suspended bonuses and allowances during the COVID-19 pandemic, the court held that such a decision could not be applied retrospectively.
Delivering judgment, Justice Faustina Kola-Olalere ruled that Mr. Joseph remained entitled to his allowances for the period in which his employment contract was valid.
However, the court determined that he was not entitled to allowances from November 2020 to July 2021, as his contract had expired and was not renewed in writing—underscoring the importance of formal contract documentation in HR practice.
The judge commended the company for continuing to pay salaries during the pandemic, stating: “I find that equity demands that both parties share the adverse effect of the pandemic as the Defendant rightly portioned it in this case.”
The ruling reinforces the primacy of contractual obligations and fair labour practices, even in periods of economic disruption.
