Abia State Governor, Alex Otti and the umbrella group of retired Judges in the State have agreed to set up a joint committee to resolve the issue of outstanding benefits and pensions for the past 16 years.
The agreement was made at an emergency meeting held by the Governor with members of a group of retired judges in the State, held at Nvosi country home of Governor Otti at Isiala Ngwa South LGA.
This development was made known by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Kazie Uko in a statement he made available on Wednesday.
He stated that the emergency meeting which was held at the instance of the Governor, was used to proffer solution to the sufferings of retired judges in the State, adding that Governor Otti and the retired judges who were led by the retired Chief Judge of Abia, Hon. Justice Sunday Imo and their Counsel, Awa Kalu, SAN, agreed to immediately set up a committee to resolve the issue.
The Governor’s spokesman noted that previous administrations in the State had since 2007, failed to pay the retirement benefits of the former judges, which included gratuities, consolidated allowances, severance packages, pension and miscellaneous entitlements.
Uko pointed out that subsequent administrations made several commitments either by way of making authorization for payment or giving approvals to make payment by installments but none of the commitments was fulfilled.
“This led to the judges filing an action at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in 2020 to recover their entitlements.
“Sadly, as the court cases rage, some of these judges are said to have died without receiving their benefits, while many have become sick and unable to afford proper medical care.
“The immediate past government reportedly promised to pay N10 million every month, but only did so for one month.
” However, the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, desirous of bringing the sufferings of the retired jurists to an end, met with them on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in his residence in Nvosi, Isialangwa South and assured them of government’s resolve to bring their predicament to a close”, he said.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary explained that the committee would be constituted from among the retired judges, officials from Abia State Ministry of Justice and relevant officers of government, who 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.
The statement further disclosed that the Attorney General of the State, Ikechuckwu Uwanna, who was also at the meeting, identified the initiative as a pragmatic strategy in liquidation of outstanding retirement benefits owed the retired judges.
“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 statement quoted the Attorney General Uwanna as saying.
Share your story or advertise with us: Whatsapp: +2347068606071 Email: info@newspotng.com
