Hon. Justice Zaynab Bashir of the Portharcourt Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court has dismissed the entitlement claim filed by one former banker, Justina against Keystone Bank Ltd for lacking merit.
The Court held that Justina failed to demonstrate that the Human Capital Policies and Procedure Manual Revised 2013 is the applicable manual pursuant to which she was to be paid terminal benefits.
From facts, the Claimant, Justina, had pleaded that she was employed by Bank PHB, and following its acquisition, Keystone Bank Ltd issued her a Letter of Employment as an Assistant Banking Officer on August 5, 2011. Justina averred that to allay the rumours of the bank placing staff of former Bank PHB on probation, Keystone Bank Ltd issued a memo clarifying that the Bank has assumed the years of service of the legacy staff.
Justina added that her employment was terminated on the 21st of April, 2017 upon which she was paid salary “in lieu of notice” and “earned allowance at exit” without paying her Gratuity, End-of-service, and other exit fringe benefits provided in the bank’s Human Capital Policies and Procedures (HCP) Manual, revised 2013.
In defence, the Defendant- Keystone Bank Ltd added that the bank offered Justina fresh employment, which she accepted unconditionally and the said letter made no mention of the assumption of employees of Bank PHB. Keystone Bank further stated that the policy applicable at the time of Justina’s exit is the Human Capital Policies and Procedure Manual 2013 (with 2015 Amendments).
