The National Industrial Court in Abuja on Tuesday fixed May 19 for judgment on a suit instituted against the Federal Government by a group of aggrieved pensioners challenging alleged discrimination and disparity in the implementation of pension policy in the country.
Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae fixed the date after taking arguments for and against the suit from counsel to the plaintiffs and those of the defendants.
The main grouse of the retirees against the Federal Government was that while those who retired on old pension policy have been enjoying a regular and prompt upward review of pension payment, those who retired on contributory pension policy have been denied such gesture in breach of the 1999 Constitution.
The retirees in the suit specifically challenged the alleged refusal of the Federal Government to review their pensions upward in line with the provisions of Section 173 of the 1999 Constitution.
The suit marked NICN/ABJ/CS/1310/2022 is instituted on their behalf by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Chief Chiesonu Okpoko.
They asked the court to determine the legality and applicability of Section 173 of the 1999 Constitution, the Pension Acts of 2004 and 2014 and circulars issued by the Federal Government agencies relating to pension implementations.
The Plaintiffs who are from the six geo-political zones of the country are Chike Ogbechie, Hajiya Fatima Ahmad, Olarewaju Ale, Vitas Ajaegbu, Alhaji Abubakar Giza, Samuel Oladosu Ajayi, Dama Peter Douglas and Alhaji Muhammed Maccido.
The six defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Minister of Labour and Employment, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, the Director General, National Pension Commission and Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission
