The National Industrial Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) to pay over 5.7 billion naira terminal benefits to over 1,000 bank workers affected by the re-capitalization exercise of 2006.

The money is to be paid within three months from the date of judgment failing which it will attract 10 percent interest until liquidated.

Justice PAUL BASSI made the order while delivering judgment on Monday in the case filed by 1,116 claimants who had approached the court since 2018.

The court also ordered the CBN and the NDIC to pay another 10 million naira as general damages to the claimants.

Shouts of joy emanated from the representatives of the bank workers after the court delivered judgment in their favour.

It’s a battle they’ve fought since the consolidation exercise of 2006 which saw banks recapitalized from 2 billion naira to 25 billion naira.

Their banks did not meet the recapitalization requirements and their banking licenses were revoked by the CBN which appointed the NDIC as the liquidator.