Date: 2017-12-18

The Kwara state government has told a group of pensioners under the aegis of Concerned Pensioners of Nigeria, Kwara State chapter, to allow court to decide in the payment of their entitlements.

The 9,030 pensioners had dragged the State government to court over perceived illegal deduction of N1.68 billion from their pension and gratuities since 2008.

Kwara Daily gathered that for about six years and still counting, the pensioners who served the State for 35 years have been engaged in legal tussle to demand payment of their N1.68b pension arrears by the State government.

In October 2008 during the administration of former Governor Bukola Saraki, the pensioners approached the Kwara State High Court to claim their withheld pension and gratuity but the state government challenged their locus standi to file the suit.

The pensioners lost at the High Court and appealed to the Court of Appeal, which ordered the government to pay them the N1.68 billion within 60 days.

Not satisfied with the Appeal Court judgement, the State government took the case to the Supreme Court, and in April 2017, the apex court set aside the judgment of the Appeal Court and ordered that the case be returned for trial at the State High Court.

It equally held that the case, which commenced with an originating summons, be heard by another judge of the State High Court, aside Justice E. B. Mohammed, who had earlier heard the case.

On Friday, December 15, 2017, the concerned pensioners held a press conference in Ilorin, where the called on the State government to pay them their entitlements. The government has however asked them to allow justice takes it course by allowing the State High Court to decide on the matter.