This conversation with Comrade Abba, based in Maiduguri, Borno State, took place on November 1, 2021.
National Record (NR): We would like to know when you retired from the services of NULGE, and whether you have any challenges with the payment of your retirement benefits, particularly with regard to gratuity and pension.
Abba: I retired on 15th January 1980. In terms of payment, the first payment made to me was N1 million. That was on 5th July, 2019. Then the second payment was paid on 18 November, 2020; these are the payments. The second one they paid me is N458,000. Since then up to now; no other payment, either pension or gratuity, has been made to me.
NR: These payments made to you are they pension or gratuity?
Abba: I don’t know, you may contact the National Secretariat; they said they follow percentage; all of us, by giving some of us; some N25,000, some N170-something; based on percentages.
NR: So, since your retirement in 1980, you were not paid anything until 2019?
Abba: They never gave me anything unless by the time of Comrade Khaleel’s regime, when they paid me one million on 5th July, 2019. The second payment was N458,000 based on percentage which was paid on 18th December 2020. Since then, no single kobo has been given to me. Whether gratuity or pension, I don’t know.
NR: Do you have a letter to that effect or did you write to them asking for the payment of your entitlements?
Abba: Yes, I have the letter from the president.
