Niger Delta
Retirees Drags Cross River State Government To Industrial Court Over Non-Payment Of Gratuity
Top ranking retired civil servants in Cross River State, including permanent secretaries, have allegedly concluded arrangements to drag
the State government and the Accountant General to National Industrial Court in Calabar for refusing to pay them their gratuities since 2014.
Our correspondent gathered that some retirees have not been paid since 2014, the development which has prompted many of them to be embarking on peaceful protests occasionally to Governor’s office, but protests yielded no result.
It would be recalled that late last year, a twenty-six-year-old man, Mr. Joseph Odey, also staged a one-man protest with a placard, ‘Your Excellency please pay gratuity, my family is distressed,’ He had told newsmen that his late father put in 32 years of faithful service to the state and died as a school principal a few months before he was due for retirement.
On the planned litigation, a retired permanent secretary, who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity, said the court case was the last option since all entreaties and protests have failed, submitting that they were waiting for their legal adviser and solicitor to commence action.
He also alleged that some staff in the Accountant General’s office were demanding gratification of about N200,000 to facilitate payment of gratuities.
But the Accountant General, Joseph Adie, in a chat, described as untrue the allegations that officers in charge of processing documents were asking each retiree to cough out a whooping N200,000 before such papers could be processed.
He said, “well, I want to assure Cross Riverians that nobody have told me that there is demand on pensioners to pay anything before they get paid. My office here is not aware of such demand.
“It is a grievous matter to ask a retirees and pensioners to begin to pay monies for their gratuities or whatever. It is an act of wickedness. In a situation like this, I must confess to you that I am not aware of that type of demand from anywhere, and I will be the last person to be a partaker. As we speak, we have cleared 2013,” he said.
Explaining what could have caused the delay in payment, Adie, a Chartered Accountant, said “the highest allocation that came to the State was N3 billion and that at times, the State would receive as paltry as N1.1 billion and N1 billion respectively”, but added that “even States with highest allocations were also finding it hard to pay as at when due.”
“I am sure you will be surprise that even those States that have the highest allocation owe pensions. Some of them are not even making effort to pay, but we have tried. We are paying, in fact at a point, we were setting aside N200million every month for payment of gratuities.
On why some persons who retired between 2016 and 2017 had gotten their gratuities paid while those in 2015 and 2016 were yet to be paid, the AG said it was an express order from the Governor of the State that some persons with critical health issues in that batch be paid.
“You know some people have health issues like spinal cord problem. Yes in cases like this, I get my special approval from the governor that such people be paid. They are only two on the line now but if he approves and there are no funds, we still have to pray but the truth is that such are considered as special cases,” he stressed.
From FRIDAY NWAGBARA, Calabar.
Continue Reading
The National Population Commission (NPC), on Friday, launched the Electronic Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System (eCRVS) in Delta State, designed to strengthen data generation and vital statistics management.
The Tide’s source reports that the system was launched by the Delta Federal Commissioner, Mrs. Blessyn Brume-Ataguba, at a news briefing in Asaba.
Brume-Ataguba recalled that President Bola Tinubu formally launched the eCRVS in November 2023 as part of the efforts to modernise Nigeria’s civil registration process.
She said the initiative followed resolutions reached at the Sixth Session of the Conference of African Ministers Responsible for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Addis Ababa in 2022.
According to her, African ministers urged member states to automate civil registration processes and implement the UN Legal Identity Agenda.
“Nigeria responded by developing an electronic, technology-driven system to enhance data generation and improve civil statistics nationwide,” Brume-Ataguba said.
She said NPC, in collaboration with UNICEF, produced an eCRVS Operational Readiness Assessment Report to guide implementation.
She explained that the partnership aims to establish a fully digital civil registration system that converts records of vital events into reliable statistics for effective planning and decision-making.
Brume-Ataguba described the initiative as a complete shift from paper-based documentation to a modern digital platform aligned with international best practices.
She said the system would transform the way births and deaths were recorded, tracked and analysed across the country.
“This process marks a complete departure from the traditional paper-based recording of vital events to a state-of-the-art digital solution that conforms to international best practices.
“This eCRVS promises to revolutionise how vital events are recorded, tracked and analysed in the country.
“This will ensure commitments, and a sustained national, international financial and political investment for birth registration within the CVRS in Nigeria, ” Brume-Ataguba said.
She also said the launch demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening civil registration data capture and processing.
She further said improved vital statistics would support national development planning and help Nigeria achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Brume-Ataguba continued that the state-level launch was necessary to sensitise the media and the public on the significance of the digital registration system.
She described the media as a vital partner in informing and educating citizens about the importance of registering vital events electronically.
She further assured residents that competent ICT personnel were available at the state level to address technical challenges and provide support.
The NPC commissioner emphasised that the eCRVS would overhaul the registration of births and deaths in the country and lay a solid foundation for efficient civil statistics management.
She urged stakeholders to collaborate with the commission to realise its goal of providing accurate and timely vital registration data.
She announced that the current phase of the e-CRVS programme would be concluded in March.
In her remark, the NPC State Director, Mrs. Jane Odigwe, appealed to the Delta Government to support the implementation of the system in the state.
“Your partnership is vital in helping us to reach this goal,” Odigwe said.
She also urged parents to register their children, saying that a birth certificate is essential for access to education, healthcare and other opportunities.
She said that registering children today would secure their identity and future participation in Nigeria’s development.
“To every parent in Delta, I urge you to bring your children forward for birth registration.
“A birth certificate is not just a document but your child’s key to education, healthcare and global opportunities.
“By registering your child today, you are giving them a voice in Nigeria of tomorrow,” Odigwe said.
The Police Command in Delta State has recovered assorted weapons from a criminal hideout in the state.
Spokesman for the Command, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this to newsmen, who on Friday in Warri, said the weapons were recovered on Thursday by the operatives of the Command’s Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), led by ASP Julius Robinson.
He said the feat was achieved following a confession by a suspect handed over to the police team by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Orerokpe Division, for further interrogation.
Edafe said the suspect was alleged to be a member of a criminal syndicate terrorising commuters and residents on the Warri/Sapele Road.
“On February 19, acting on information obtained during interrogation, the suspect led the operatives to a concealed armoury located on the Sapele/Warri Road by the Adheje Community axis.
“A thorough search of the hideout resulted in the recovery of a locally made long gun, a locally made cut-to-size gun.
“Also recovered were a fabricated Beretta pistol loaded with five rounds of live ammunition, 10 live cartridges and a dagger,” he said.
Edafe stated that the investigation into the matter was ongoing.
He, however, quoted the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Command, Mr. Aina Adesola, to have reiterated the command’s resolve in dismantling criminal networks, and mopping up illegal firearms, among others, in the state.
The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has cautioned on threats of lawless protests by some members of the public over matters that are already before the courts.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, told newsmen in Uyo on Friday that illegal protests could undermine public peace and order.
“When matters are already in court, let’s follow legal and civil means to seek redress. That is how a civilised society works.
“Although we recognise the constitutional rights of citizens to lawful expression and peaceful assembly, illegal protests are not allowed,” he said.
Azare said the Command would not tolerate threats or acts of nude protests, unlawful occupation of public or private facilities, and disruption of government, economic or social activities.
He said anyone found culpable of engaging in acts or threats of illegal protests would be prosecuted in line with the law.
“As a Command, we are committed to the maintenance of law and order, we are also committed to protecting lives and property”, he stated.
-
Maritime4 days ago
Nigeria To Pilot Regional Fishing Vessels Register In Gulf Of Guinea —Oyetola
-
Sports4 days agoGombe-Gara Rejects Chelle $130,000 monthly salary
-
Maritime4 days ago
Customs Declares War Against Narcotics Baron At Idiroko Border
-
Sports4 days agoTEAM RIVERS SET TO WIN 4×400 ” MORROW” …Wins Triple jump Silver
-
Maritime4 days ago
NIMASA,NAF Boost Unmanned Aerial Surveillance For Maritime Security
-
Sports4 days agoNPFL Drops To 91st In Global League Rankings
-
Sports4 days agoNIGER DELTA GAMES PANACEA TO YOUTH DEV”
-
Sports4 days agoNPFL Impose Fines On Kwara United Over Fans Misconduct