An Enugu-based lawyer, Mr Chukwunonye Ogbe has dragged Enugu State governor to the National Industrial Court (NIC) over the state government’s failure to pay retirees’ pension and gratuities for 10 years.
Also joined in the suit are Enugu State Pensions Board, Government of Enugu State of Nigeria and Attorney General, Enugu State of Nigeria.
The rest are Accountant General, Enugu State of Nigeria and Local Government Staff Pensions Board, Enugu State.
Ogbe in suit no. NICN/EN/23/2021 brought the matter under the enforcement of the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens who retired as civil servants in Enugu State.
The claimant sought for an order of the court directing the defendants to pay the gratuity of former employees of the state government and those in the local government councils who retired from June 1, 2011.
He also sought an order of the court directing the defendants jointly and severally to pay the gratuity of such affected people who retired from service before June 1, 2011 but had yet to be paid their gratuities.
Ogbe also requested the court to make an order directing the defendants to pay gratuities to the next-of-kin of all former deceased employees of the state government and local councils who had yet to be paid their entitlements.
Other reliefs were: “ An order directing the defendants to pay the outstanding pension due to all former employees of the state government and council areas and the payment of such arrears to the next-of-kin of the deceased former staffers.”
Ikengaonline reports that the claimant sued for himself and on behalf of former employees of the state government and local government areas of the state.
The suit is dated Sept. 2, 2021 and filed at the NIC, Enugu Division on Sept. 8, 2021.
The defendants have been given 14 days after the service of the complaint to enter for an appearance in the suit.
