National Industrial Court of Nigeria to deliver judgement on pension policy discrimination suit

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has adjourned a judgement in the case filed by retirees from the six geo-political zones of the country against the Federal Government, citing discrimination in the implementation of the pension policy.

The trial judge, Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, set the date for the ruling after lawyers presented their arguments in the matter. The court granted a motion by the counsel to the retirees, Emmanuel Omonuwa, seeking leave of court to file additional facts on oath by the claimants. Justice Obaseki-Osaghae dismissed the objection to the admissibility of the additional facts by the defendants and held that the additional facts filed by the claimants were to bring to the notice of the court that they were in the service of the defendants before they retired.

The retirees filed the suit against the Federal Government, seeking ten declaratory reliefs, including a determination of the legality and applicability of Section 173 of the 1999 Constitution, Pension Acts of 2004 and 2014, and circulars issued by the Federal Government agencies relating to pension implementations.

The plaintiffs named 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 the Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission as defendants in their suit.