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  • NUP denies planned protest over N32,000 pension increment

    NUP denies planned protest over N32,000 pension increment

    The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) has denied any planned protest over the recently approved N32,000 pension increment by the Federal Government.

    Its Deputy National President, Chief Abdulahi Onu, said this while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

    It would be recalled that some aggressive pensioners had threatened to protest over the non-implementation of a N32,000 pension increment, and N25,000 palliative funds for pension, among others.

    Onu said the union disassociated itself from the planned protest, saying such actions are unilateral, unauthorised, and do not reflect the position of the NUP leadership.

    “Our leadership representing members across the country is satisfied with the explanation of stakeholders’ engagement initiated by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), on the issue of the N32,000 pension increment and its efforts geared towards clearing the arrears.

    “We equally appreciate President Tinubu for all his efforts aimed at bettering the living conditions of pensioners. We are also directing all our members to stay away from the rumoured protest called by some group of pensioners.

    “PTAD is currently attending to the issues and concerns of all pensioners regarding the N32,000 pension increase and we trust that the efforts of the agency towards making payment will come to fruition in no distant time.

    “No group of pensioners, chapter, or sector should decide alone by sending out a circular announcing a protest or any form of industrial action without the consent of the national leadership,” he said.

    According to him, it is not right and neither is it the character of a responsible trade union.

    Onu disclosed that some groups, including the NIPOST Lagos Branch and other factions, had been circulating information about protests over the increment and arrears.

    He said that the union would neither support nor participate in any protest organised by splinter groups or individuals acting outside the union’s constitutionally recognised structures.

  • How pensioners are dying due to hardship – NUP

    How pensioners are dying due to hardship – NUP

    The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), says many members are dying due to hardship caused by the economic downturn.

    According to the union, the economic downturn has led to high cost of living in the country.

    Mr Godwin Abumisi, the National President of NUP,f spoke on Thursday when he fielded questions from  newsmen in Abuja.

    Abumisi said that the union had lost about 1,500 of its members in recent times due to economic hardship and high cost of living in the country.

    According to him, it is not in our power to distribute food items to pensioners in Nigeria, we do not have the resources.

    “In Nigeria, government do not think about the poor people.

    “Otherwise , how can pensioners in Enugu receive as low as N450 as monthly pension and we have been saying this but it seems as if we are crying wolf but it is a reality, ‘m” he said.

    The NUP president  said that many  members across the country were also still earning as low as N500 and N1,000 as monthly pensions, especially in the South-East states.

    Abumis  listed the states to include  Borno N4000, Gombe N8,000, Jigawa N12,000, Katsina N7,000, Kogi N5000, Kwara N3000, Niger N4,000, and Taraba N5,000 among others.

    “It is important to highlight here that the above pension rates are as low as shown above due to non-harmonisation of pensions which the union has always made a case for.

    “This is also due to non-implementation and payment of the previously reviewed N18,000 minimum wage in 2010 and the N30,000 minimum wage in 2019 by many states of the federation.

    “Sadly, the non-implementation of these salary reviews in the states has affected the corresponding increases in pensions in the various states under reference.

    “The union takes exception to and disagree with the untenable excuses by the state governments that they cannot afford the implementation and payment of the previous wage reviews,” he said.

    He said that with the increase in federal allocation to states by the present administration, it was unacceptable and unpardonable.

    According to him,  in the interest of fairness and justice,  NUP will propose N100,000 as the National Minimum Pension to theTripartite Committee in line with the proposed N200,000 National Minimum Wage by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) .

    Abumis said that anything short of that would incur the wrath of the pensioners who were hard-hit by the prevailing economic hardship occasioned by the ever rising cost of living

    He, however, reiterated the union’s call to be included in the tripartite committee on national minimum wage.

    “I want to make it clear, I am going to led Nigerian pensioners on a protest so that the world will see that pensioners are suffering.

    “We have the authority of our members to call for a mass protest across the country, particularly in the capital city of Abuja if our demands are not addressed by the Federal Government.”

  • Pensioners demand inclusion in minimum wage committee

    Pensioners demand inclusion in minimum wage committee

    The  Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has urged  the Federal Government to include their members in the tripartite committee on the national minimum wage review..

    Mr Godwin Abumisi, National President of  NUP requested a news conference addressed by the union on Thursday in Abuja.

    Abumisi urged President Bola Tinubu to, as a matter of necessity and urgency, include the union in the committee.

    According to him, when the news of constituting the wage review committee was announced by the federal government, it was applauded by the NUP.

    “This was with the high hope that NUP will be represented in such a high-powered committee to offer their voice to the negotiation as well as make a case for their members.

    `We were anticipatory bearing in mind that pensioners are workers in retirement who go to the same market for their daily needs.

    “Moreso, we feel that the pensioners’ union should be carried along during negotiations on the matters that bother on their members.

    “Unfortunately and regrettably too, our hope of being represented in the committee was dashed as the name of NUP was visibly omitted from the membership list,’’ he said.

    He said they were using the forum to protest and register their displeasure with the constitution of the committee in a way that undermined the relevance of the union.

    Abumisi argued that although, NUP is a member of the organised labour family, hut its interest will not  be sufficiently catered for in the absence of its members

    “Previous experiences had shown that pensioners had always been left to their fare in the series of wage reviews and negotiations.

    “It is not until our local union (NUP) will have to struggle overtime to press for a corresponding upward review of pensions for their members.

    “This oversight, or do we call it maltreatment of the senior citizens, is a flagrant contravention and disobedience to the provisions of Sections 173(3) and 210(3) of the 1999 constitution.

    “The section unambiguously stipulates that pensions shall be reviewed every five years, or together with any federal/state salary reviews, whichever is earlier.

    “The above constitutional provision has always been violated as it is hardly observed or adhered to by the same authorities that signed it into law,’’ he said.

    The NUP president therefore urged that in the interest of peace and industrial harmony,  President Tinubu should appoint the leadership of the union to serve in the committee.

    He contended that any review of national minimum wage should always be done together with the review of the national minimum pension.

    According to him, workers and pensioners belong to the same civil service family with similar characteristics and needs.

  • NUP commends Kaduna government over health insurance cover for 16,000 pensioners

    NUP commends Kaduna government over health insurance cover for 16,000 pensioners

    The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) Kaduna State Chapter, on Monday commended the State Government for providing health insurance coverage to more than 16,000 pensioners in the state.

    The secretary of the union, Alhaji Alhassan Musa, made the commendation while speaking with newsmen in Kaduna.

    Musa described the development as “very thoughtful”, adding that with the insurance cover, pensioners would no longer spend all their monthly stipends on medical bills.

    He explained that under the arrangement, pensioners would be required to pay only three per cent of their monthly pension, while the government covered the remaining 97 per cent of health care costs.

    He said that the pensioners health insurance scheme was introduced by the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority (KADCHMA) in collaboration with the Kaduna State Pension Bureau.

    “This is a good development for all pensioners in the state and we welcome it with all our hearts as another strategy of taking care of the aged population in the state,” he said.

    The secretary said that the union had, however, requested that the pensioners be enroled in secondary health facilities or any health facility of their choice.

    “This is because the major ailments of aged people are diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, sight problem, and prostate among others.

    “These are illnesses that are better managed at secondary or tertiary health facilities,” he said.

    On his part, the Director-General, KADCHMA, Malam Abubakar Hassan, said that the measure would lift the burden of out-of-pocket spending on health from pensioners in the state.

    Hassan explained that the initiative was part of KADCHMA effort to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on health services in line with the goals of the Universal Health Coverage.

    He urged the private sector to take advantage of the health insurance scheme and enrol their families to enjoy affordable healthcare services without exposing them to financial risk.

    Similarly, the Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Pension Bureau, Prof. Salamatu Isah, said that the insurance scheme would enable pensioners to direct their little income to other basic needs.

    “This in the long run, will improve the quality of their lives,” she added.