From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
Pensioners of the New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN) under the Northern States Governors Forum have lamented the protracted dilemma of nonpayment of their benefits amounting to N2.1B, stressing that the death toll of members waiting for this benefit has reached 106 as of January 2025.
A statement signed by Alhaji SadiqTela on behalf of Elders Forum and Friday Sule for Joint Union of the New Nigerian Newspapers says “Following the recent out-of-Court settlement between Northern Governors Versus Albert Iweka and Co. which was adopted on the 27th of November, 2024 by the Federal High Court as facilitated by New Nigerian Beneficiaries, expectations have been high given the extreme poverty orchestrated by this pending benefits.”
“Recall that the duo of Barrister Iweka and Idi Sule, all former workers of the New Nigerian Newspapers, had dragged Northern Governors to Court over payments of check-off dues and later obtained a garnishee order that froze New Capital Properties Limited (NCPL) account where the proceeds of sales of NNN assets was domicile in.
“Following the painstaking efforts by New Nigerian Beneficiaries, the matter was squashed, and all garnishee orders instituted earlier vacated, and all parties duly settled except New Nigerian Beneficiaries, ” he said.
He pointed out that “more than 100 days after the vacation of the 10-year-old scorging court matter, all New Nigerian Beneficiaries who served the 19 Northern Governors are still wondering in the wilderness in pains and gnashing of teeth.
The worker, however, lauded the incumbent Secretary to the State Government of Kaduna and has so far soothed our wounds via strategic engagements with the Northern Nigeria Development Company and the Northern Governors Secretariats.
“These efforts are Consoling, but given the reality of the economic hardship, the over 800 Beneficiaries who have almost 10,000 mouths to feed are already in tears.” He added.
It maintained that “the Northern Governors under the leadership of Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State have the deciding powers for the destiny of almost 1000 New Nigerian Beneficiaries
“We sized this opportunity to beg our Northern Governors’ Forum to come to our aid as the death toll of NNN beneficiaries awaiting payment has reached 106 as at January 2025.
“In the Spirit of Ramadan, we beg our Northern Governors to show mercy on our families as most of us are unable to Breakfast.”
