Members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), in Ogun State, have threatened a showdown with the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for over 150 months of unremitted contributory pensions.
The union in a letter addressed to Abiodun, had issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state government over the failure to effect implementation of 33.4 per cent increase in pension and other unpaid entitlements.
A copy of the letter obtained by Tribune Online titled “Unpaid Pensioners Entitlement: Notice of Industrial Action” was signed by the State Chairman of NUP, Waheed Oloyede and the Secretary, Bola Lawal.
The union claimed that some of its members had died over their inability to cater for themselves while expressing
concern that the N500 million quarterly allocation for the payment of gratuity has not been sufficient to clear backlog of unpaid gratuities to both local governments and State retired teachers.
“We demand conventional review/increase in pension in consonance with the provision of section 210 (3) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) in line with the recent implementation of consequential adjustment of the Federal government, of which circular had been forwarded to the State government since May 2021.
“We demand immediate implementation of the provisions of the issued 2010 as it has been done in many States and Federation.
“Commence the rescheduling and payment of 20 years outstanding gratuities of retired local government/primary school teachers and seven years of state retirees to be paid without delay, as insufficient N500 million quarterly allocation is being released at a very slow pace of time.
“We demand immediate resuscitations of the illegal suspended Local Government Pensions Committee (BLGP) and Bureau of State Pensions Committee by former Governor Ibikunle Amosun. It was a legal committee backed up by Federal and State laws.
“It is on our records that not less than 150 months of Unremitted Contributory Pension Deductions are outstanding with the government and we call for an immediate refund to the affected retirees.
“Your Excellency, many of our members are presently handicapped with different health challenges requiring immediate medical attention that will gulp much money and the children who could have been of assistance ate not gainfully employed while the government is holding on to their millions of naira entitlements. Avoidable deaths are recorded on our members on a daily basis.
“In view of the above, we are imploring Your Excellency to pay our entitlements before the due date, hence take this letter as conventional 21-day notice of industrial action against Ogun State government,” the letter reads.
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