Protest exclusion from negotiation panel
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has decried its non-inclusion in the national minimum wage committee, threatening to embark on a nationwide protest to express the maltreatment of retired workers in the country.
Its National President, Godwin Abumisi, who stated this in Abuja, yesterday, threatened to lead pensioners in nationwide protests naked.
The pensioners have also proposed payment of N100,000 minimum pension monthly to the tripartite committee in line with the N200,000 national minimum wage proposal by the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, saying anything short of that would incur their wrath.
Though Abumisi did not disclose the date for the protest, he explained that the omission would exclude pensioners from benefiting from the new national wage when it takes effect.
He said: “The NUP and her teeming members across the length and breadth of this country cry out and urge President Bola Tinubu to, as a matter of necessity and urgency, include NUP in the national minimum wage review committee for workers.”
The union clarified that contrary to the belief of the public that as an affiliate of the NLC, its interest ought to be protected by the national umbrella body of Nigerian workers, hence no need for duplication of representation, adding that it is not a true reflection of their realities.
Abumisi insisted the exclusion is a flagrant contravention of the provisions of Sections 173(3) and 210(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
To underscore the sufferings of ex-workers at the state level, the NUP boss accused Southeast states of being the most culpable in the maltreatment of retirees.
According to available data, pensioners receive as low as N450 in Enugu, N2,000 in Adamawa, N3,000 in Kwara, N4,000 in Niger, N5,000 in Kano, N8,000 in Gombe, N12,000 in Jigawa, N7,000 in Katsina, and N5,000 in Kogi.
Others are N5,000 in Taraba, N4,500 in Yobe, N3,000 in Zamfara, N4,000 in Nasarawa, N10,000 in Osun, in Ondo, retired workers get N3,000 monthly. At the same time, it is N5,000 in Oyo and N4,500 in Ogun.
Abumisi lauded Kaduna State government for paying N30,000 and Plateau for giving N20,000 as lowest monthly pay.
He punctured the excuses by state governments that they cannot afford payment of previous wage reviews amid increased federal allocations by the President Tinubu, describing the action as unacceptable and unpardonable.
The union leader expressed optimism that the President would direct Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), George Akume, to liaise with the leadership of NUP to send representatives for the committee.
