From Francis Nansak, Lafia
Workers of the defunct Nasarawa Investment and Property Development Company (NIPDC) have petitioned the state government before the state House of Assembly, demanding the sum of N271million as entitlements.
Recall that the immediate past government, in 2017, liquidated the Nasarawa Investment and Property Development Company (NIPDC).
Mr Rabo Musa, one of the disengaged staff, who signed the petition submitted to the House made this known in the petition when they appeared before the state House of Assembly committee on Public Complaints, Petition and Security in Lafia, Tuesday.
Mr Rabo Musa opined that the entitlements if paid would go a long way to improve their standard of living.
“Unfortunately, in October 2016, the then government was misled and took the decision of liquidating Nasarawa Investment and Property Development Company Limited .
“This led to the sudden winding up of the company’s activities which eventually came to a halt 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,” he said.
They also alleged 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 and the parent ministry.
They 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 N6billion.
“This has become very necessary, especially now that the current Government of His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi Sule has magnanimously sent a bill to the Honourable House.
“Seeking legal backing to set up a state Investment Development Agency,” the petition reads.
In his defense, Ayuba Ayenajeh, the Liquidator of the company, 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 short-changed anybody while discharging his duties.
Responding, Chairman of the committee, Hon Danladi Jatau assured the disengaged staff of fairness and justice.
“We will advise the government appropriately, especially now that a Bill or the establishment of the state Investment Development Agency has scaled second reading at the House. It is just the matter of time , be patient and by God’s grace you will smile, ” he said.
