N42 .3BILLION UNPAID GRATITUTES: OYO GOVERNMENT, PENSIONERS TO SETTLE OUT OF COURT
Penpushing reports further that Industrial Court Judge; John Peter fixed the date after listening to submissions from counsel to the parties and advised that the litigation should not be allowed to drag for long, in the interest of the pensioners.
It is recalled that, the claimant instituted the case against Ajimobi and five others over unpaid N42.3 billion gratuities and pension arrears of retired primary school teachers and local government workers.
Other respondents in the suit are Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, the State Commissioner for Finance, the Accountant-General and the State Head of Service.
The claimant’s counsel, Mr Lasun Sanusi (SAN), told the court that the State Government had expressed readiness for out-of-court settlement, adding, “we have filed an application for summary judgment on the basis that the claimant doesn’t have defence.
Penpushing further reports that, Lasun added that the Oyo State Government has initiated a meeting between the pensioners and the Government while the Pensioners have expressed willingness to settle out of court.
“The action has indicated a measure of seriousness, and we want to be given a chance to explore a possibility of out-of-court settlement,” he said.
Penpushing reports that, counsel to the respondents, Mrs Bimpe Segun-Olakojo, however prayed the court to extend the time within which to file defence in case the out-of-court settlement option would fail.
