The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Railway Sector has raised the alarm over the exclusion of 111 pensioners of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) in Enugu State from monthly payroll, lamenting that the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) introduced by the Federal Government omitted many of its members from the monthly payroll.
Disclosing this during the 6th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NUP held in Lagos, the National Chairman of the NUP Railway Sector, Comrade Salami Ojo urged the Executive Secretary of PTAD to ensure railway pensioners are in her priority.
According to Comrade Salami Ojo, “We wish to heartily appreciate the Executive Secretary of PTAD for showing a genuine commitment to the case of the pensioners and her positive role towards the implementation of the payment o the outstanding balance of 24 months of 33percent arrears.
“Our appreciation also goes to the NUP at the national level for their invaluable contributions and commitment to the welfare of the Nigerian pensioners generally.
“This address will be incomplete without appreciating the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) Managing Director, Engr. Fidet Okhiria and his management team. We also wish to remind the NRC Managing Director about the 111 railway pensioners who are in Enugu State, and are still not on payroll since 2005.”
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The NUP Railway Branch National Chairman also revealed that following discussions with PTAD, commencement of verification and data capturing of all parastatals and pensioners under the Define Benefit Scheme (DBS) will soon begin.
“We wish to appeal to the Executive Secretary of PTAD to please put railway pensioners in her priority because we believe that the outcome of the verification and data capturing exercise will produce the required database that will enhance quick solution and correction of our short payment,” Comrade Salami Ojo added.
The NEC meeting also announced the confirmation of Comrade Gbolahan Aiyepola as the NUP Railway Branch substantive General Secretary following the death of the association’s former General Secretary, Alhaji R.E Balogun. Until his appointment, Comrade Aiyepola was the associations National Auditor 1.
The NEC meeting further mandated the National Chairman and General Secretary to dialogue with the NRC Welfare Association Members/Officers in respect of a building located at No. 97, Herbert Macauley Road, Yaba, Lagos; and ensure that the takeover of the building by the NUP Railway Sector is complete before the next NEC meeting of the NUP in March of 2019.
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