Staff of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) have raised an urgent alarm over alleged salary discrimination, unpaid arrears, workplace intimidation, and professional marginalization by the court management.
They called on President Bola Tinubu, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and the National Assembly to intervene immediately.
In an appeal signed by Comrade Eze Kingsley, the NICN workers accused the court’s management of perpetuating long-standing institutional injustice, including significant disparities in salary structure when compared with staff in other superior courts.
According to the petition, while workers at the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, and FCT High Court receive N196,000 monthly at Grade Level 8, NICN staff earn only N154,000 for the same level of service.
“Despite the implementation of the 25% wage increase across other judicial bodies, NICN management has refused to adjust salaries or pay arrears. Instead, staff members who lawfully demand equitable compensation are met with threats and intimidation,” the workers alleged.
The workers also decried what they described as a “hostile work environment,” claiming that following an earlier appeal for redress, the NICN management summoned staff to an emergency meeting where they were allegedly threatened with dismissal and public humiliation.
“These actions are not only unjust but fundamentally contradict the labour rights enshrined in our Constitution,” the petition read, emphasizing the irony that such treatment is occurring within an institution charged with protecting workers’ rights.
In addition to salary concerns, the staff highlighted issues of professional exclusion, stating that NICN workers are routinely denied access to capacity-building programmes, workshops, and judicial training initiatives made available to their counterparts in other courts.
The workers demanded, “Immediate harmonization of judicial salaries across all superior courts, overseen by the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“Full implementation and disbursement of the 25% wage increment and arrears owed to NICN staff.
“An end to intimidation by NICN management, with guarantees that staff can express concerns without fear of reprisal.
“Protection and restoration of judiciary funding, including a halt to budgetary cuts that have reportedly worsened these disparities.”
Calling on President Tinubu to uphold his Renewed Hope agenda, the aggrieved workers stressed the urgency of the situation.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to protect Nigerian workers, beginning with NICN staff.
“We implore the Chief Justice of Nigeria to restore parity across the judiciary and safeguard the rights and welfare of all judicial workers,” the statement read.
They also urged the National Assembly to launch an immediate investigation into NICN’s employment and financial practices to ensure fairness and accountability.
“The National Industrial Court of Nigeria must not become a paradox, where those entrusted to uphold justice are themselves denied it,” they said.
About the Author
