The leadership of the organized labour unions in Plateau State has raised an alarm over the way and manner retired teachers and local government employees are being shortchanged in the payment of their severance benefits.
The unions included the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress.
The unions, in a statement in Jos, frowned at the situation.
It said: “We observe with dismay the ugly conditions which these retirees are being subjected to by the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs.
“The retirees are being coerced and shortchanged in the computation of their severance for retirement benefits on 65 per cent without recourse to an agreement signed by the organised union on the implementation of the national minimum wage.
“It is on record that an agreement for the full implementation of the national minimum wage was signed on 11th January 2012.
“It behooves therefore that any retiree that falls within the ambit of the time when the agreement was signed are entitled to 100 per cent retirement benefits and not 55 per cent the ministry is compelling the retirees to go home with.”
The unions are warming up for an industrial action should the state government refuse to look into the 11-point demands awaiting implementation.