No fewer than 986 retirees of the 17 councils of Plateau State have taken the state governor, Caleb Mutfwang;chairmen of councils, and others to the National Industrial Court (NIC) sitting in Jos over alleged unpaid gratuities and pension arrears worth billions of naira.
They are to appear in court today, April 8, 2024, to defend the allegations as claimed by the Local Government Retirees.
In the suit, No: NICN/JOS/22/2023, made available to journalists in Asaba, Delta State, and filed by MessrsDung Mamman Zi and Zakka T. Plangzak themselves and on behalf of 986 other retirees, joined all the defendants for the speedy payment of their money.
According to the claimants’ lead counsel, Edwin Okoro (SAN), the legal basis for the claims is in Sections 210 and 318(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), which define a public officer of the state to include local Government council staff. Additionally, Sections 16 and 20 of the Local Government Staff Pension Board Law of Plateau State states that upon retirement council employees are entitled to the same benefits as those at the state level.
He said the retirees have the right to request a pension review since the constitution mandates such reviews whenever salaries are adjusted, given that their pensions are currently based on the N18,000 minimum wage, whereas it should be recalculated based on the new N30,000 minimum wage.
