NNN Beneficiaries Appeal to Northern Governors Over Unpaid Benefits as Ramadan Begins

By AbdulHakeem Mutiu Adejumo-Ajeseku, Kaduna

BTvNEWS: Beneficiaries of New Nigerian Newspapers under the Northern States Governors Forum have lamented the prolonged delay in payment of their benefits, totaling N2.1 billion, highlighting that the death toll of members awaiting this benefit has reached 106 as of January 2025.

A statement signed by Alhaji Sadiq Tela on behalf of the Elders Forum and Mr. Friday Sule for the Joint Union of the New Nigerian Newspapers on Tuesday in Kaduna, stated:

“Following the recent out-of-court settlement between the Northern Governors and Albert Iweka & Co., which was adopted on November 27, 2024, by the Federal High Court, facilitated by the New Nigerian Beneficiaries, expectations have been high due to the extreme poverty caused by the pending benefits.”

“Recall that Barrister Iweka and Idi Sule, both former workers of the New Nigerian Newspapers, had taken the Northern Governors to court over unpaid check-off dues. They subsequently obtained a garnishee order that froze the account of New Capital Properties Limited (NCPL), where the proceeds from the sale of NNN assets were held.”

“Following the painstaking efforts by New Nigerian Beneficiaries, the matter was squashed, and all garnishee orders instituted earlier were vacated. However, despite the settlement of all other parties, the New Nigerian Beneficiaries themselves remain unsettled.”

“More than 100 days after the vacation of the 10-year-old scorching court matter, all New Nigerian beneficiaries who served the 19 Northern Governors are still wandering in the wilderness, in pain and gnashing their teeth in poverty due to the lack of payment of their entitlements.”

“The worker, however, commended the incumbent Secretary to the State Government of Kaduna, who has so far alleviated their suffering through strategic engagements with the Northern Nigeria Development Company and the Northern Governors’ Secretariats.”

“These efforts are consoling, but given the reality of the economic hardship, the over 800 beneficiaries, who have almost 10,000 mouths to feed, are already in tears.”

According to the statement, “the Northern Governors, under the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, have the deciding powers for the destiny of almost 1,000 New Nigerian beneficiaries.”

“We seize this opportunity to beg our Northern Governors’ Forum to come to our aid, as the death toll of NNN beneficiaries awaiting payment has reached 106 as of January 2025.”

“In the spirit of Ramadan, we humbly appeal to our Northern Governors to show mercy on our families, as most of us are struggling to break our fast due to our current difficulties.”