The staff of the defunct Nasarawa Investment and Property Development Company (NIPDC) have sought the intervention of the State House of Assembly for payment of their over N271million entitlements hanging on the neck of past administration of the state.
They press their demands in a petition written to the Assembly for their prompt intervention.
One of the petitioners, Mr Rabo Musa, who was appended his signature on the petition submitted to the House further gave clarifications to our correspondent in Lafia.
It also came to fore when the disengaged staff appeared before the State House committee on Public Complaints, Petition and Security.
The disengaged staff said that payment of their entitlements would improve on their living standard.
Part of the petition reads: “Unfortunately, in October 2016, the then Government was misled and took the decision of liquidating Nasarawa Investment and Property Development Company Limited for we cried loud.
“This led to the sudden winding up of the company’s activities in 2017.
“Letters of disengagement were issued to staff on 10th August, 2017 and 16th November, 2017 for other staff and management staff respectively with retrospective effective date of their disengagement being November, 16th 2016.
“Our prayer is for you to intervene in the payment of our outstanding entitlements totalling N271, 061, 455.15.”
The disengaged staff also told the committee that the then Acting Managing Director, Mr Ayuba Ayenajeh, who was also appointed as the Liquidator of the company unilaterally reviewed downward the salaries of the entire staff by 45 per cent without the approval of neither the board of directors nor the parent ministry.
The staff urged the committee to review the entire liquidation process of the defunct company in order to ascertain the current status of its assets which is worth about N6 billion.
“This has become very necessary, especially now that the present administration under the watch of “Our industrial, Governor, Abdullahi Sule has magnanimously sent a bill to this house deeking legal backing to set up a State Investment Development Agency”, the petition reads.
On his part, the Liquidator of the company, Ayuba Ayenajeh said that he was ready to give the committee adequate information on the liquidation of the company any time the committee invited him again.
He said that he has an integrity to protect and would not shortchanged anybody while discharging his duties.
Responding, Hon Danladi Jatau (PDP-Kokona West), the Chairman of the committee, has assured the disengaged staff of fairness and justice in their grievances.
“I want to appreciate you for channeling your complaints through the honorable house and to advise you to remain calm and be patient.
“We will advise the government appropriately, especially now that a Bill for the establishment of the
State Investment Development Agency has scaled second reading at the House.
“It is just a matter of time, be patient and by God’s grace you will smile, ” he said.
