Nasarawa State Pensioners To Receive Retirement Gratuity

By Chris Nyamtu

The Industrial Court sitting in Markudi, Benue state, has ordered three commercial banks to immediately disburse over One Billion Naira in the accounts of Nasarawa State Government to 170 Pensioners as their retirement gratuity.

The trial judge, Justice Isaac Essien gave the order in his final decision on a creditors judgement case brought before the court against the Nasarawa State Government by a group of retirees in Benue State.

The court also awarded a cost of four million naira against the state government.

Relief seems to be on sight for a group of retirees under the aegis of Patriotic Local Government Pensioners Union, Nasarawa State who had approached the Industrial Court in Benue State, seeking enforcement of a creditors judgement case for the payment of their retirement benefits.

Before passing a judgment on the matter, the Presiding Judge, Justice Isaac Essien dismissed two motions filed by the state government to dismiss the case and recuse himself from the case.

Justice Essien held that the three commercial banks that were joined in the suit, did not prove to the court why the garnishee order should not be enforced.

He therefore ordered the three banks to pay the sum of over one billion Naira belonging to Nasarawa State Government directly into the bank account of counsel to the retirees for disbursement to their various accounts without further delay.

The judge also held that the Nasarawa State Government had violated the constitutional rights of the retirees for failure to pay their entitlements.

Addressing journalists , Counsel to the Patriotic Local Government Pensioners Union of Nasarawa State, Mr Sunday Okpale said justice had finally prevailed for his clients.

Also speaking, counsel to Nasarawa State Government Mr Egye Aliyu argued that his clients would take further action on the judgement in due course.

Some of the retirees who were mostly aged broke into tears in the courtroom immediately after the judgment.

Chairman of the Patriotic Local Government Pensioners Union, Nasarawa State Mr Emmanuel Amirkpa noted that the decision of the court was a clear display of giving hope to the common man.

Mr Amirkpa maintained that they were committed to pursuing their legitimate rights in spite of the hardship they were subjected to having served the state faithfully.