Pensioners protest non inclusion in National Conference
From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi
The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) has lamented the exclusion of its members from the on-going National Conference, describing the development as ‘marginalisation’ of the retired civil servants.
The National President of the NUP, Dr. A.O. Afolayan, represented by the North-east Zonal Chairman, Alhaji Muhammed Inuwa Ahmed, made the lamentation at the press conference in Bauchi.
The group vowed that if the government fails to respond to its yearnings, the union would mobilise its over five million members nationwide to protest even as he threatened that pensioners would be
incited not to for vote for anyone who does not listen and solve their problems.
The union further decried that its concerted efforts to send delegates to the conference proved abortive.
“Dear comrades, if our efforts to achieve the purpose of this conference fails, we shall have no alternative than to involve the Nigerian Labour Congress [NLC] and Trade Union Congress [TUC].
“With the involvement of these two labour giants in the country, it is certain that all Nigerian workers who are praying to be pensioners would join us on sympathy ground in nationwide protest which may
likely come up in future”, he said.
The NUP also lamented that government has fail to address the corruption perpetrated by pension administrators who defraud pensioners of millions of Naira, thereby staining the country’s image
and reputation both national and internationally.
According to the NU, it was worrisome when funds meant for pensioners were being subjected to long-drawn budgetary debates and unnecessary delays at all government levels, deliberately to frustrate pensioners.
NUP regretted that the associated challenges to the contributory pension scheme resulting in non-deduction of check-off dues from pensioners portents serious danger in the future of its members.
