56 CBN Casual Labourers petition Complaints Commission demanding end to casualisation

56 casual labourers of the Central Bank of Nigeria have petitioned the Federal Capital Territory's office of the Public Complaints Commission over the apex bank's refusal to offer them permanent employment after 15 years of engagement.

The workers led by their leader, one Mr. Emmanuel Agbaigba in a petition dated February 25,2014, titled ' Application for permanent employment and pleading for the abolishment of the evil modern slavery called the casualization of labour' signed by 55 others and addressed to the FCT Commissioner of the Commission, Hon. Obunike Ohaegbu, the petitioners alleged that they were engaged by the CBN more than 15 years ago and their job schedules include loading and unloading of 'aluminium boxes or jumbo boxes containing money from the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company strong rooms to CBN strong rooms nationwide. This is known as mint movement'. 

They also claimed that they were charged with the 'responsibility of burning of grounded mutilated currency notes', which they described as 'one of the most risky jobs'. They wondered why the apex bank is yet to make their appointment permanent despite several repeated appeals to the management and hazards associated with the job. They further cited the Labour Law which equally frowns at casualisation and the need for the CBN to obey such.

"The CBN has being using us for more than a decade now without giving us permanent employment and the Labour Law says that if any organisation engages a person or group of people for the period of six(6) months he or she should be considered a substantial staff in that organisation" they said.

The aggrieved workers said they resorted to the Commission for help because they are law abiding citizens and resolved to restrain themselves from actions that will lead to breach of public peace. They appealed to the Commissioner to use his office to bring an end to their plight.

"We beg of you, the voice of the voiceless and the last hope of the common man to order our permanent employment or compensation for the selfless services we have rendered to the economy" they added.

The Commission's Commissioner, Hon. Ohaegbu who received the petition commended the aggrieved workers for their decision not to employ violent means in pressing for their demands and assured them of the Commission's readiness to ensure their grievances are adequately addressed.