The Federal Ministry of Justice has finally stepped into the protracted face-off between Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) and its 1991 retirees, even as the Senate directs that the embattled ex-workers be paid their entitlements.
Our correspondent gathered that after several attempts to broker peace and ensure that the retires were paid had failed, the office of Minster of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation finally met with the ‘warring’ duo recently after a letter dated July 22, 2010 had been sent to the managing director of NPA, Malam Abdul Salam Mohammed.
Sources at the meeting which held for three days in Lagos disclosed that it was attended by a representative of the minster and three senior lawyers, while NPA’s team was led by one Mr. S. A. Balogun, accompanied by four others. The 1991 NPA retirees were reportedly represented by the trio of Mr. B. Osinuga, Pastor Okon and Mr. Oni.
We also confirmed that the Minister had earlier ordered NPA to come to the meeting with a calculation of the total entitlement of each category of retrenched employees, which included those who served for five years and above but less than 10 years, those who served for 10 years and above, but less than 10 years as well as those who are deceased.
Our correspondent also confirmed that NPA was lampooned for allegedly refusing to obey the ruling of the Supreme Court and the delay to pay pension and gratuity and other entitlements to 1991 NPA retirees.
The Minister’s representative reportedly chided NPA for allegdly disrespecting apex Court’s judgment and warned its management that nobody can cancel the ruling, not even the President of Nigeria.
On the strength of the ministry’s argument and based on copies of the apex court’s judgment, the meeting was said to have agreed that NPA would to go back and commence the process of paying the ex-workers’ pension and gratuity.
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