SERAP, Pensioners Seek ECOWAS Court Intervention over Unpaid Pensions, Salaries

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice in Abuja has been urged to order President Muhammadu Buhari to deduct the pensions, salaries and gratuities of pensioners and workers across several states of Nigeria from the statutory allocations of the indebted state governments and pay same directly to the pensioners and workers on a-monthly basis.

This was a product of a suit filed by the Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Federal Civil Service Pensioners Association, and Association of Retired Local Government Staff and Primary School Teachers in Delta State, suing over “violations of the human rights of workers and pensioners to equality and equal treatment; equal protection of the law and non-discrimination; to dignity and independence; to adequate standard of living and well-being; to property; to work; to family life; and to economic and social development.”

The plaintiffs want “immediate payment of all outstanding pensions, salaries and gratuities through deductions from statutory allocations of the indebted state governments, and payment of adequate money compensation of N50 million to each of the pensioners and workers who are plaintiffs, and to pay other unpaid Nigerian pensioners and workers adequate compensation.”

Other plaintiffs joining SERAP in the suit number ECW/CCJ/ APP/39/2017 filed last Friday are: First Bank of Nigeria Pensioners (Lagos); Mrs. Comfort C. Owoha; Joseph Agabi; Osemwenkha G.O, and Mrs. J.E. Enabunlele. The plaintiffs are suing for themselves and on behalf of their members and other workers and pensioners across the country whose salaries and pensions have not been paid by the states and federal government for several months.