THE governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, and a group of retired judges in the state have decided to form a joint committee to address the issue of unpaid benefits and pensions due pensioners for the past 16 years.
The state government has since 2007 refused to pay retired judges’ retirement benefits, which include gratuities, consolidated allowances, severance packages, pensions, and other rights.
Subsequent administrations made various commitments, either by authorizing payment or approving payment in installments, but none of the commitments were fulfilled.
As a result, the judges filed a case at the Nigerian National Industrial Court in 2020 to reclaim their entitlements.
Unfortunately, as the legal fights continue, some of the judges are said to have died without getting their benefits, while others have fallen ill and are unable to afford necessary medical care.
The previous administration allegedly agreed to pay N10 million per month, but only did so for one month.
However, Otti met with them yesterday , July 25, at his residence in the Nvosi, Isialangwa South area of the state and assured them of the state government’s resolve to bring their predicament to a close.
At the emergency meeting, convened at the instance of the governor to proffer solutions to the lingering impasse, the retired judges and their lead counsel, a former Attorney General of Abia State, Prof. Awa Kalu, SAN, agreed with the governor to immediately set up a committee to resolve the issue.
The committee, which is to include retired judges, officials of the Ministry of Justice and relevant officers of government, would calculate and confirm the actual sum due to each of the retired judges or the beneficiaries of those deceased and report back to the governor within two weeks.
“This is to enable the government to set up a pragmatic strategy that would ensure the immediate liquidation of the outstanding retirement benefits,” said the state Attorney-General, Ikechukwu Uwanna, who was at the meeting.
“His Excellency decried how the state has rewarded its citizens who slaved for the peace, development and progress of Abia State with penury and promised to reverse the trend.”
The judges were led by Justice S. N. Imo who retired as the Chief Judge of Abia State.
