A former employee of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Charlene Makai, has filed a lawsuit against the commission, demanding N12 million in compensation for alleged unfair labour practices.
Makai dragged NCPC to the National Industrial Court (NIC), Abuja Division in a suit No: NICN/ABJ/136/2024.
Makai in the lawsuit accused the commission of harsh treatment, harassment and abuse.
In the lawsuit, Makai, through her lawyer, Ajibola Bello, of Abuja-based law firm, Law Corridor, alleged that her salary and allowances were withheld by the commission before her forced resignation.
Makai as the claimant in the suit said she was employed by the defendant, NCPC in July 2013 as an administrative officer (Grade Level 09).
The claimant added that she secured promotion until she became chief administrative officer (Grade Level 13) in October 2023.
According to the claimant, she was redeployed from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja to the South-East geopolitical zone in February 2024 to work under the South-East Zonal Officer, Isaac Okeke, who was lower in rank than her.
“I sought clarification from the commission’s executive secretary who insisted that I report to Okeke and I obliged,” Makai said.
Makai in the suit against NCPC claimed that the commission refused to pay her the allowances she was entitled to in the first 28 days of her redeployment.
Makai also said the Senator representing Plateau Central in the National Assembly, Diket Plang, after appointing her as his Special Assistant on Employment and Job Creation Policy wrote NCPC’s executive secretary for some sort of approval.
She stated that the executive secretary, however, informed Senator Plang that she was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for financial infractions and conversion of public properties and for that reason, she could not be released for secondment.
According to the lawsuit, her monthly salary was withheld by the commission after which she was forced to tender her resignation letter on April 22, 2024.
“The claimant consequently asked the court to direct the defendant to pay her N178,369 being monthly gross salary and allowances for April 2024, N86,460 being kilometre allowance for her redeployment, N41,252 owed resettlement allowance for her redeployment, and N252,000 owed 28 days redeployment allowance,” the report read.
“Makai also asked the court to mandate the defendant to pay the sum of N10 million as “general damages for constructive dismissal and unfair labour practice” and the sum of N2 million for the cost of the suit.”
The court in its ruling thereafter ordered that NCPC who is the defendant be served the notice of the suit.
