Matthew Otoijagha
The country celebrated the Pensioners Day on Tuesday, with a declaration by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) that the Government of Imo State is the worst in Nigeria in terms of poor treatment of pensioners and unpaid pensions.
Speaking during the celebration to mark the event at the Labour House, Abuja, President of NUP, Dr. Abel Afolayan revealed that Imo State government is owing its pensioners N56 billion.
The NUP made this declaration even as the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba and the NUP President warned that Nigeria cannot effectively address the issue of corruption without addressing the important issue of retirees.
Dr. Afolayan regretted the violation of the Provisions of 1999 Constitution by the Federal Government and many of the state governments by their refusal to comply with sections 173(3) and 210(3) of the constitution which stipulates that: “Pension shall be reviewed every five years or together with an increase in workers’ wages, whichever comes earlier.”
He said, “The Federal Government and by extension, the state governments who are in full knowledge of the above-quoted sections of the Nigerian constitution have always failed to comply with the provisions contained therein.
“The Federal and state governments have always violated these constitutional provisions. Though the Federal government has been trying to comply partially, it has always failed woefully in the payment of arrears resulting from pension increase.”
He added that, “The violations are much worse in the states. With the exemption of a few states like Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Yobe, Plateau, Ogun, Anambra, Kebbi and Jigawa; while all other states are still owing their pensioners outstanding pension arrears amounting to billions of Naira and covering many years.
“Imo State government has the worst record of non-challant, cruel and dehumanising treatment of their pensioners. As at today, Imo State government owes its pensioners N56 billion. Oyo State government similarly owes Local Government and Primary School pensioners billions of Naira as unpaid pension arrears.”
However, Dr. Afolayan said the NUP has already dragged the states before the National Industrial Court.
Also speaking, Comrade Wabba said the issue of pension must be addressed first in order to have successes in the fight against corruption.
He said: “If we want to address the issue of corruption in Nigeria, we must also address the issue of retirees because the current workers will look at the condition of retirees and now begin to think, will that be my situation when I retire. That is why people will continue to help themselves.
“Therefore, we want to urge government to look at the issue of the liabilities, particularly from October 2017 till date. Those on contributory Pension have not been able to access their benefits because of the lack of counterpart funds. Pensioners are not a liability, but an asset because of their wealth of experience and wisdom.”
The NLC President added: “I must say that government at all levels must continue to take the issue of pensioners very Important because our blessing as a country lies on how we are able to treat our pensioners.”
He, however, commended President Buhari for paying 50 per cent of retirees of the Nigeria Airway benefit; adding that even though many of them have died, it is worthy of commendation. “However he should also look at the balance and the same gesture should be extended to all other retirees. We have no reason to treat our pensioners the way they are being treated. In many countries around the world, including Denmark, there is 91 percent social security.
“For them, retirement is sweet because once you retire, you become the property of government because your house, health care and everything becomes the responsibility of government.” Dr. Afolayan also commended the release of N22.4 billion to reduce, if not totally ameliorate the years of suffering of the retired Airway workers and called on President Buhari to look at the balance of the benefit and extend the same gesture to all other retirees.
He said: “We cannot but express our profound gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for being kind and magnanimous in seeing that this amount is released for the payment.
“This action has, no doubt, shown him to be a listening and compassionate leader in whom the milk of human kindness is flowing. We would humbly and passionately plead that the remaining balance of 50% be paid including whatever is due to the deceased members next-of-kens are settled expeditiously.”