The Owerri branch of Nigeria Bar Association has claimed
that the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has unlawfully sacked
1,000 employees of the state’s local government areas.
The lawyers have also concluded plans to institute a legal
action against the state government over its policy of allegedly compelling
pensioners to forfeit 60 per cent of their pension arrears.
Speaking in Owerri, the state capital during the activities
marking the beginning of the new Judiciary Year in the state, the NBA Chairman,
Owerri Branch, Mr. Lawrence Nwakaeti, said that the decision of the state
government to slash the pension arrears of the senior citizens by 60 per cent
was an embarrassment and a gross affront on the rule of law and constitutional
democracy.
Nwakeati said, “The Bar under our leadership has challenged
this action in court, hoping that justice will come to these senior members of
our society who have put in the better part of their lives in the service of
the state. We are doing this on pro bono basis. They deserve more than what is
being given them by the government.”
According to him, “I know that the normal excuse will be
that there is recession. We are aware of it, but what is the essence of
preaching recession as an excuse and at the same time spending huge sums of
money on Christmas decorations? Such decorations can only be for the living and
not for the dead.”
In his response, Okorocha, who was a special guest of honour
at the occasion, said there was no fact in the chairman’s speech.
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