By Lukman Olabiyi
A group of retired primary school teachers has called on the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, to pay them their gratuity and other entitlements since their retirement.
The teachers, about 21, said, after meritorious service for the state and retiring between 2013 and 2015, they were yet to be paid their gratuity and other entitlements.
Speaking through their counsel, Mr. Kazeem Olusola Salawu, of Salawu, Akingbolu & Co. in a letter titled “Passionate Appeal to Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State for Payment of Gratuity and other Entitlements of Retired Primary School Teachers of Akwa Ibom State Between 2013 and 2015” the aggrieved teachers said it was disheartening that, since their retirement, efforts to ensure that their entitlements and gratuities are paid have proved abortive.
The teachers also said that several entreaties to the officers in charge to ensure that they are paid have not yielded any positive result.
They stated that, earlier in 2020, a lawsuit was instituted against the state at the National Industrial Court, in suit No: NICN/UY/09/2020 Udo Henry Eshiret & 6 others v. Akwa Ibom State Universal Basic Education Board & 1 others, suit No: NICN/Y/08/ OR and Suit No: NICN/UY/10/2020 Akpadiaha Bassey Akpadiaha & 8 others V
Akwa Ibom State Universal Basic Education Board & 1 other, respectively.
The letter further reads: “Upon the service of the court processes on the government of Akwa Ibom State, and at the instance of the court, parties agreed on amicable settlement of the dispute and promises were made that their gratuity and other entitlements would be paid before the end of year 2021.
However, since the settlement was agreed in 2021 the teachers who have served the state with all their strength are yet to be paid their gratuity and other entitlements despite promises made to the court without any justifiable reason.”
In their plea to the governor, the teachers urged him to pay up their gratuity and other entitlements.
They said: “Sir, We have followed your track record since your election as the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, your dedication to the welfare of workers is unrivaled. We therefore passionately plead to your Excellency that our gratuity and other entitlements be paid within the shortest period.”
According to their lawyer, Mr Salawu, the pensioners are dying by the day. It is not palatable that these people who have served their fatherland meritoriously are being owed.