Jos
Disengaged staff of the Nigerian Mining Corporation (NMC), Jos have called on Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to facilitate the payment of their withheld severance package amounting to N329.4 million.
The disengaged staff, numbering about 694, yesterday in Jos, alleged that the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) which took over the assets and facilities of the NMC after its closure in 2005, was forcing them to vacate their houses before March, 2018.
The NMC Jos was closed down by former Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili in October 2005 during Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
The disengaged staff, through their counsel, Barr Adamu Ali said they were supposed to be paid the sum of N639.6 million on monetised scales sate policy but were paid the sum N310.1 million on harmonised public service salary structure (HAPSS), after the federal government gave the then ex-minister Ezekwesili mandate to pay them.
“We have been complaining since 2006, and even now we have written eight letters to the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Fayemi Kayode, seeking audience on the issue but there was no positive or favourable reaction to all the letters,” he added.
He said they are urging Osinbajo to facilitate the payment of their severance package because he is the head of federal government privatisation team and that their corporation was privatised after it was taken over by the BPE.
