MINISTRY OF STEEL DEVELOPMENT AND NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS AGREES ON AMICABLE RESOLUTION IN THE LEGAL TUSSLE INSTITUTED BY ONE MR VICTOR EFFIONG EKPAHA WHO VOLUNTARILY RESIGNED AS A STAFF OF THE METALLURGICAL INSTITUTE, ONITSHA.

This resolution came after a meeting was held between the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Ministry after the NLC came to picketing at the Ministry’s Headquarters on Thursday, 10th April 2025, acting on information presented by Mr Victor E. Ekpaha. However, after the Ministry through the Permanent Secretary Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu gave a detailed position of event, a truce was reached to the satisfaction of both parties.

Putting the records straight: Today’s brazen picketing of the Ministry’s Headquarters by the Nigerian Labour congress (NLC) in a bid to enforce the judgment of the National Industrial Court in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/45/2018 Victor E. Ekpaha V. Metallurgical Training Institute & Anor cannot be justified. However, the picketing of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was not on Workers Welfare, but centered on the case of one man, Mr. Victor E. Ekpaha.

The judgment creditor in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/45/2028 was employed by the Metallurgical Training Institute Onitsha (MTI) on 2nd March, 2001. However, he voluntarily withdrew his services on the 5th August. 2005 citing the non-payment of his monthly salary of February, March and April 2005 as the reason for the withdrawal and the same was accepted by the Institute on 12th August, 2005 after he was given 7 days to change his mind, and a staff exit clearance certificate were duly issued.

Curiously, the judgment creditor despite voluntary withdrawal of service sought to resume after several years and subsequently filed Suit No. NICN/ABJ/45/2018 wherein judgment was delivered on 22nd March 2021 ordering inter alia the reinstatement and payment of the judgment creditor’s emoluments.

The Ministry being dissatisfied with the said judgment filed a notice of appeal dated 6th July, 2021 and an amended notice of appeal on 31st January, 2022 with Motion on Notice seeking leave of the Honourable Court to appeal the said judgment, as well as the Motion for Stay of Execution at the trial court and the court of appeal. These processes have been served on the judgment creditor and are pending before the courts.

While the pendency of the appeal, the Ministry received a series of appeals from several organizations including the Nigerian Labour Congress ostensibly at the instance of the judgment creditor to settle this matter amicably. Considering the appeals in addition to the advice of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation to explore the possibility of amicable settlement, the Ministry negotiated with the judgment creditor’s Consoles and the sum of 30 million Naira was mutually agreed to be paid in favour of the judgment creditor in full satisfaction of the judgment debt.
Surprisingly, the judgment creditor(Victor E. Ekpaha) shortly after the mutual agreement rejected the said sum, laying baseless claim for over 2 billion Naira that cannot be supported by the relevant salary scale.

Dr. Chris reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to amicably resolve the matter without prejudice to NLC picketing on the Ministry’s premises in Wuse ll in the guise of enforcing the judgment of court.

However, in the spirit of comradeship and as a responsible organisation, the Ministry would set up a Joint Committee to critically examine the case. Furthermore, Dr Chris implored the NLC to take advantage of the Joint Committee for a proper understanding of the issues to enable parties reach an amicable resolution.