It’s evident we are in the era of “Not leaving it for God” apologies to Femi Falana SAN as every Nigerians want to handle their issues by themselves. The latest entrant being a group of retired civil servants that are being owed several years worth of their pensions and gratuities.

The retirees in conjunction with the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) on Friday November 17, 2017 dragged the federal government to court in a bid to compel the government to deduct their pensions from the monthly allocation of their respective states.

The plaintiffs (retirees) in a suit filed by their lawyer Mr Femi Falana SAN asked the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja to

“order the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to deduct the pensions, salaries and gratuities of pensioners and workers across several states of Nigeria from the statutory allocations of the indebted state governments and pay same directly to the pensioners and workers on a-monthly basis”.

They are suing over “violations of the human rights of workers and pensioners to equality and equal treatment; equal protection of the law and non-discrimination; to dignity and independence; to adequate standard of living and well-being; to property; to work; to family life; and to economic and social development”.

Other plaintiffs joining SERAP in the suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/39/2017, are: First Bank of Nigeria Pensioners (Lagos), Comfort C. Owoha, Joseph Agabi, Osemwenkha G.O. and J.E. Enabunlele.

This court case which is expected to drag on for a long period of time in “accordance” with the Nigerian legal system is expected to resolve the conundrum surrounding the inability of states in the country to pay their pensioners as at when due.

At the moment thirty four states in Nigeria excluding Lagos and Anambra are owing their retirees pensions and gratuities. In some states pensioners have not been paid for three years. In a state like Imo they’ve not been paid for more than two years and the Governor have introduced a draconian means of solving this by asking the retirees to write off their pensions in a bid to start collection from 2017.

The cheques issued to this pensioners “bounced” at the point of payment. This untoward experience have increased the plight of individuals that committed their lives to the service of the country.

While public office holders are being paid millions after four years in office, we’ve failed to pay those that committed their 35 years to the nation. What an irony.. the decision of SERAP to take this to court will further help in advancing a secured future for our pensioners.

Editor