24th November, 2011
Thirty one former legislators of Bauchi State House of Assembly have dragged the state government to court over its failure to pay each of them N125 million severance allowance.
The suit filed before the state Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Zango, is contending that the members had served the state for four years as members of Bauchi State House of Assembly starting from May 2007.
They argued that they were constitutionally entitled to the payment of severance gratuity on or before May 29. 2011, having successfully served the state.
The suit was filed on their behalf by their counsel, Rabiu Garba.
Garba claimed that other states had paid severance benefits to their members who served during the same period with the state former lawmakers.
He prayed the court to order the state government through the State Assembly Commission to pay them their entitlements to enable them enjoy the reward of their sweat.
The News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) recalled that the lawmakers had sometime in September written to the state government indicating their intention to sue for non-payment of the terminal benefits.
The legislators through the counsel had given the government one month within which to pay them or they take legal action .
The state government, through the office of the Secretary to the State Government, wrote the lawmakers stating that approval had been granted and that it was working out modalities for the payment .
However, the payment had not been effected as at the time the suit was filed.
Meanwhile, the Court has fixed 28 November for hearing of the suit .