Court Orders Benue Govt To Pay Retiree Oche Abah N6m Gratuity, Pension Arrears

The Presiding Judge, Makurdi Judicial Division of the National
Industrial Court of Nigeria, His Lordship, Hon. Justice Isaac
Essien has ordered Benue State Government, its Attorney General,
and 3 others to pay one retiree Oche Abah the sum of Six Million,
Four Hundred and Eighty-Four Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty-One
Naira as gratuity and 16 months accumulated pension arrears.

However, the court declined Abah’s request to grant an interest
rate of 25% for the absence of proof.

From facts, the claimant- Oche Abah had submitted that the
deliberate refusal of the Benue Government to pay his gratuity and
the accumulated monthly pension of the many years after his
statutory retirement from service is illegal, unlawful, and unfair
Labour practice sought for an order to enter summary judgment in
his favour on the grounds that the state government and others
cannot deny his retirement benefits which were duly computed by the
government, urged the court to grant the reliefs sought.

In defense, the defendants urged the court to dismiss the claims
of the claimant for being meritorious.

Delivering judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Isaac Essien
held that the amount claimed by Oche Abah has been clearly
supported by the computation of the retirement benefit done by the
Auditor General of Benue State that the state government and others
do not seem to have any defense to the action.

“In the absence of a proper defense to this action, this court
is under a duty to enter judgment for the sum claimed in this
motion. Judgement is hereby entered in the sum of N 6,484,361.72k
being the claimant’s gratuity and the accumulated arrears of his
monthly pension as contained in his computation for payment of
Retirement Benefits letter dated 27th July 2015.” Justice Essien
Ruled.

The Presiding Judge, Makurdi Judicial Division of the National
Industrial Court of Nigeria, His Lordship, Hon. Justice Isaac
Essien has ordered Benue State Government, its Attorney General,
and 3 others to pay one retiree Oche Abah the sum of Six Million,
Four Hundred and Eighty-Four Thousand, Three Hundred and Sixty-One
Naira as gratuity and 16 months accumulated pension arrears.

However, the court declined Abah’s request to grant an interest
rate of 25% for the absence of proof.

From facts, the claimant- Oche Abah had submitted that the
deliberate refusal of the Benue Government to pay his gratuity and
the accumulated monthly pension of the many years after his
statutory retirement from service is illegal, unlawful, and unfair
Labour practice sought for an order to enter summary judgment in
his favour on the grounds that the state government and others
cannot deny his retirement benefits which were duly computed by the
government, urged the court to grant the reliefs sought.

In defense, the defendants urged the court to dismiss the claims
of the claimant for being meritorious.

Delivering judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Isaac Essien
held that the amount claimed by Oche Abah has been clearly
supported by the computation of the retirement benefit done by the
Auditor General of Benue State that the state government and others
do not seem to have any defense to the action.

“In the absence of a proper defense to this action, this court
is under a duty to enter judgment for the sum claimed in this
motion. Judgement is hereby entered in the sum of N 6,484,361.72k
being the claimant’s gratuity and the accumulated arrears of his
monthly pension as contained in his computation for payment of
Retirement Benefits letter dated 27th July 2015.” Justice Essien
Ruled.