In an exclusive interview with Newtelegrap Benue State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Fidelis Mnyim, shed light on critical issues surrounding the non-payment of pensions and recent controversies.
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Mnyim tackled questions about unpaid pensions, alleged Appeal Court rulings, and the state’s efforts to address these challenges.
Pension Payment Challenges: Mnyim acknowledged the pension payment challenges inherited by Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration, emphasizing that 95% of legal cases and garnishees result from unpaid pensions. Governor Alia, committed to a social contract with the people, is actively working to resolve the backlog of unpaid pensions inherited from the previous administration.
The accumulated debt of over N163.7 billion comprises 42 months from state government pensioners and 96 months from local government areas. The Attorney General clarified that the government, while paying pensions as and when due, is dealing with the accumulation inherited from the past administration.
Legal Cases and Court Orders: Mnyim discussed the legal complexities arising from court orders and consent judgments. Many pensioners have sought legal recourse, obtaining judgments that include gratuities and unpaid months. The Attorney General explained that these cases, some involving large sums in the billions, present challenges when defaulted payments trigger the entire sum due.
Governor’s Commitment and Actions: Governor Alia’s administration is committed to addressing these challenges. The government has initiated payments, particularly adhering to templates for local governments. The administration’s policy directive is to pay all pensioners as and when due. The government has urged pensioners to withdraw cases and is working on resolving mixed records to ensure accurate payments.
Addressing Alleged Appeal Court Ruling: Responding to allegations of an Appeal Court ruling against the state government compelling the reabsorption of local government chairmen reportedly sacked by Alia’s administration, Mnyim clarified that no chairmen were sacked. The state House of Assembly asked them to step aside for an uninterrupted investigation into financial issues. He dismissed the claim of an Appeal Court ruling, labeling it as fake news.
Way Forward: To address the pension crisis, the government has set up three committees: Garnishee/Judgement Debt Management, Legal Drafting, and Administration of Justice. These committees aim to interact with lawyers representing pensioners, manage judgement debts, and ensure a collaborative approach to resolving the pension challenges.
The Attorney General assured that the government is committed to the rule of law and is working diligently to address the issues faced by pensioners in Benue State.
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