Non-Payment Of Pension, Breach Of Contract –Akinjide

Senate President, David Mark,(left) with Speaker, House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, when the presentation of resolutions of State Assemblies on the constitution first amendment bill 2010, failed to take place in Abuja, yesterday

Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation, Chief Richard Akinjide says it is breach of contract for any government to deny its retirees the payment of pension and gratuity.

Chief Akinjide said this during an interview with The Tide correspondent at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa

He noted that since the economy is not static, it was necessary that pension and salary be seen as index link in view of the prevailing purchasing power.

“When a salary earner is retired and not paid his benefits, it means that he has been  shortchanged”, the former justice minister declared, and called on government to fulfil its obligation to their workers by ensuring the early payment of pensions and gratuities.

According to him, the benefit of the civil service is the security and the certainty it afford workers who then expect that at the time of retirement, they are paid their benefits, saying that if this was not done, it amounts to a breach of contract.

On President Goodluck Jonathan’s qualification to run the  2011 presidential election, the legal elder statesman said “ Jonathan has every right to contest election. I like him, he is very educated and eligible whether from the south or not. Irrespective of where he comes from”

He opined that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a disciplined family which could resolve its shortfalls and streamline the agenda for the 2011 elections, adding that Nigerians should be happy that democracy has come to stay in the nation’s political system, where everyone has the right to contest election if qualified.

Shedie Okpara