Joseph Odok|1 November 2015|12:30am
The Nigerian legal system is so rich in its provisions that clearly provides for the well being of those that have served her meritoriously even after retirement and/or discharge of their duties. The
rationale behind this is to continually keep them able to carry on their responsibilities to their family and meet up personal demands.
Every responsible government pays its debt and never joke with the
welfare of its citizenry. It is worthy of note that the Federal Government
has long discharged its duty by paying off all severance of its cabinet members and legislators
that served in the past administration. This is in
keeping with practice and in accordance with relevant laws as provided for in Nigerian legal
system.
Our governor Senator Benedict Ayade is one of the benefactors of this legal benefit as a serving senator. This obligation was discharged to him about four months ago. One good turn deserves another, it is expected that the governor replicate such to those that served as cabinet members and legislatures in the past administration.Till date, the governor is still withholding the severance allowances of cabinet members and Cross State House of Assembly members of the past administration.
Our dear governor, this does not tell good of your government. Most of these people sacrificed themselves to see that you were made a governor, denying them their legal and just benefit means stabbing them at their back. This will stain your personality that you so much cherish. It will also add unnecessary burden on your media team that are working tirelessly to hype your image despite noticeable limitations in the defence they
have often put to salvage your image.
Our governor, I also add a voice that you pay our retired parents arrears of their pension and gratuity. These people need their dues, as it is not a
privilege but a legal duty. It is not fair and just to send them to untold hardship and penury as a reward for their sacrifices and meritorious service. Most of our pensioners are facing difficult situation and are dying. Our governor, you have made us to belief that you love us, please let your love transcend mere promises to reasonable and prompt action to salvage the situation. These old men and women voted for you and trusted that you will act in
fairness by paying them their due.
Our dear governor, we are aware that you just got 7.8 billion naira from the federal government
intervention fund for the purposes of paying arrears of salaries, pension and gratuity. It will save your image if you employ the monies for the purpose for which it was disbursed. We also heard from amongst our brothers in CRSHA that you just got an approval for the loan of 50 billion naira. We know that the state generates monies for your government as internally generated revenue. We know you have not stopped getting monies that accrues to our state from the federation account.
Despite the news we hear about the monies things seems not to be working well and our roads remain a dead trap amongst other things. Our governor some of us are feeling you are doing so well only in promising us heaven and earth; but we are so sorry to say that we are yet to see your promises translate into
actions that affects the common man in the street.
We are often happy to meet up with our obligations when your men from water board and DOPT intimidate us to pay our dues even at abnormal
rates. We have been paying our tax as often deducted from our salaries. Please make your government responsible by responding to the
legitimate needs of the masses.
Long live the governor!
Long live our retired men and women!
Long live Cross River State!
Joseph Odok
Is a University Don & Legal Practitioner
