Cross River workers reject govt’s planned migration to PENCOM scheme

Workers in Cross River state have protested the move by the Senator Bassey Otu-led administration to move them to a contributory pension scheme known as PENCOM.

Tribune Online report that hundreds of workers gathered at Transcorp hotels early Wednesday morning, waiting for government officials and NLC National President, Joe Ajero for an introductory meeting on the benefits of implementing the contributory pension scheme in Cross River State.

But within minutes of arriving, the air was filled with screams of “no pension”, sending the government a signal that its plan had been rejected.

Workers who saw the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Anthony Owan-Enoh, booed him until he was escorted away by security and Ajero did not come out of his hotel room at Transcorp Hotels.

Recall that Organized Labour in a communique issued on 23, October 2023 and signed by the Chairmen of NLC , TUC and JNC, Comrades Greg Olayi, Monday Ogbodum and Akan Raymond Afu respectively, unanimously resolved that Cross River workers reject the proposed contributory pension scheme pending proper discussions with leadership and relied on the provisions of section 5(2) of the labour Act. Cap L1, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 believing that the CRSG would seek full consent of the CRS workers before implementing the scheme.

The communique said the visitation of the national President was not at the instance of the workers that constitute Affiliates of the labour Unions and dissociated members from any forms of comradely and solidarity.

It advised that instead, the government should as a matter of urgency attend to pressing issues of workers ranging from payment of outstanding gratuities to the N35,000 wage award approved by the federal government to cushion effects of fuel subsidy removal.

Efforts to get the State Chairmen of NLC and TUC to speak on today’s action proved abortive as they all refused granting interviews to our correspondent. 

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