9 months ago
56 ARTICLE AD
South-South zonal forum of Nigeria Union of Pensioners has lamented increasing hardship and deplorable plight of its members, while making passionate appeal to stakeholders to come to their rescue, especially with the present state of the country.
Their plea was contained in a communiqué signed by the zonal chairman and secretary of the zonal NUP, Mr. William Seleipere and Obong Cosmas Essien, respectively on behalf of the pensioners and made available to journalists on Wednesday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
The communiqué stated, “The South-South council observed with dismay that some pensioners are still earning N1,500, N2,000, N3,000 and therefore urge all state governments to harmonize increase on the low-income earning pensioners.”
Lamenting that most of its memos to the state governments on reducing the suffering of their members are not being attended to, the pensioners said, “We also observed that most of the communiqués issued at the end of our meetings to government to ameliorate the plight of pensioners are not attended to by state governments.”
The communiqué called on all state councils within the South-South zone to reach out to different state governments to ensure “the implementation of most of our communiqués.”
It, however, expressed appreciation to the governor of Akwa lbom State for releasing the sum of N14 billion for the payment of gratuity to retired primary school teachers, state civil service pensioners and local government pensioners within his nine months in office.
They also appealed to the Akwa Ibom State government to establish pension commission/board/bureau to handle the subtle issues of pensioners in Akwa lbom State.
The pensioners called on Committee on Living Wages to consider pensioners for living pensions, since their condition is deplorable especially with the acute hunger in the country.
They also rejected the merging of PTAD with the Federal Ministry of Finance, stressing that the good works of PTAD in the interest of pensioners was also appreciated.
Appreciating the prompt reaction of the NUP national headquarters on the issue of representation on the minimum wage committee without relying on NLC representation, the pensioners called on all state governors in the zone to include pensioners in palliative schemes, just as they appreciated states governors who have done same.
They also appreciated Edo and Bayelsa State for the implementation of health insurance schemes and advised states yet to implement to do same.
In his goodwill message, Akwa Ibom State Controller, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr Amuboh Orhoghene, said the ministry, in consultation with the union and other critical stakeholders, will continue to push for the review of all relevant labour laws that will improve the welfare of pensioners and other workers in Nigeria.
He said, “May I also advice that the tripartite mantra of mutual respect and consultation should continually remain the basic for a peaceful relationship between union and its social partners.”
Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Civil Service Commission, Mrs Ekereobong Umoh, noted that it is common knowledge that old age comes with constrained ability to work and earn a living, stressing the need to plan ahead on how to survive at this stage of life, as pensions is usually a form of support at such a time.
She urged the union to use this forum to make pensioners understand that their contributions will provide protection in the form of lump sums and pensions to them and in eventuality of death, to their dependents.
She said, “They should be encouraged to partake in a contributory scheme as an investment for the future.”
Chairman of Akwa Ibom State council of Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Sunny James, in his goodwill message, assured the pensioners of continued partnership of organized labour to ensure that they receive all their entitlements, including living pensions after years of toiling for their fatherland.
