Bomba Dauda
Following the case filed by the retired Permanent Secretaries and Head of Service in kaduna State at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in kaduna State Judicial Division on the arbitrary deduction of their monthly pension by Gov. Nasiru El-rufai. Spokesman of the retirees, Ahmed Abdu Zaria, said, we are in court to seek redress because we don’t have any means to fight for our right than the court.
Speaking to the Press shortly after the Court hearing, Counsel to the retirees, Barr. Sam Atung, Esq, said, we in Court for the determination whether the kaduna state government can validly legislate retrospectively to derogate from the pensioners’ vested right to enjoyment of Pension in the manner provided upon their retirement from the public service of Kaduna State to their disadvantage without the concurrent/consent of the pensioners’
Adding that, whether the Kaduna State Government circular duly signed on behalf of the Head of Service of Kaduna State can validly operate in manner as to stripped the pensioners’ of their status as retired public servants in the public service of Kaduna State and to now convert them to political office holders so many years after their retirement from the public service of Kaduna State upon attainment of the mandatory 60 years for retirement, 35 years in service and or 8 years in the rank of permanent secretary.
And whether the Kaduna State Government unilateral reduction of the pensioners’monthly pension is not a violation of the spirit and later of the provisions of the Section 210(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the kaduna state Pension Reform Law, 2016.
Atung further stated that, we are in Court seeking for an order directing the Kaduna State Government to pay my clients the difference in their monthly pension resultant from the kaduna state government unlawful deductions from the pensioners’monthly pension which commenced in the month of March, 2020.
Meanwhile, the kaduna state government are yet to file their statement of defense to the originating summons. There was also no representation from the kaduna state government even though there is proof of service on them. The presiding Judge, Hon. Justice S.O Adeniyi has adjourned the case to 27th October, 2020 for further mention.
