Retired civil servants in Kebbi State, specifically those who retired between 2012 and 2013, are currently seeking redress at the Industrial Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi, claiming that the calculation for their pensions and gratuities was incorrect.
The retirees asked the industrial court to compel the state government to correct both the pension and the gratuities as percentages, based on which their entitlements were paid by the committee, were incorrect.
Babangida Gwandu, who is the leader of aggrieved retirees, told journalists that the court action was their last option as they exhausted avenues of dialogue with the government over the issue but the state government allegedly remained adamant.
Mr Gwandu also dismissed the state government’s claims on commitment to the workers’ welfare and payments of pensions and gratuities, saying retirees in the state are living from hand to mouth due to government’s inability to settle in full their gratuities.
The union leader added that civil servants who retired from 2014 to date did not receive a single kobo from Kebbi State government despite bailouts received by the government.
He noted that federal interventions in Kebbi were a failure as the government allegedly diverted such aids to other areas, leaving both the civil servants and other citizens to wallow in poverty.
On June the 12, the state governor, Atiku bagudu, said in his Democracy Day speech that Kebbi State was not owing any retiree.
Represented by his deputy, Samaila Yombe, the governor said his government was committed to the workers’ welfare.
