The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) Federal Civil Service Branch (FCSB) has elected new leaders to run it affairs.
Comrade Frederick Equaoba was elected Chairman; Lawal Mani, Vice Chairman; Garba Usman, Treasurer; Ahmed Saleh, Trustee 1; Bulus Angyu, Trustee 2; Bola Lawal, Auditor; Felix Osuajoku, PRO, Durotoye Kehinde, Ex officio and Danladi Kogo, Ex officio as well.
Speaking at the election in Abuja, the National President of the NUP, Mazi Godwin Abumisi, reaffirmed the union’s commitment to democratic principles and unity.
He expressed dissatisfaction over the actions of some individuals who, according to him, mistakenly believed that the union was their personal property.
Abumisi, in his speech, underscored the significance of the electoral process in maintaining legitimacy within the union.
Reflecting on the journey of the union, Mazi Abumisi began by recalling a similar event held six years ago in the same venue.
He acknowledged that while he was not president at the time, his role in that capacity paved the way for his current leadership position.
Abumisi spoke of the legal battles and challenges faced in bringing the union to its current point but expressed satisfaction that justice has finally been served. “The law spoke positively,” he said, affirming that while justice was delayed, it was not denied.
“Today, a major forward leap is being recorded at the Nigeria Union of Pensioners. It was in this same auditorium that I performed a similar function six years ago at the first Sectoral National Delegates Conference of the Federal Civil Service branch of the NUP on July 18, 2018. I was not the president then, but I acted in a representative capacity,” he said.
“This election should have been held almost two and half years ago, but the forces of darkness held it down. However, we edged on.
“They went to court and the law spoke positively. Even though justice was delayed, it was not denied. The challenges we had with a few disgruntled element in the Federal Civil Service branch were that some people, very few people, erroneously believed that a union is a private property. They believed in only themselves and themselves alone. It is a misnomer to believe so as the union belongs to every member.
“It is better late than never. Therefore, it is better that this delegates’ conference is held today, even though it ought to have been held earlier.
“By our Constitution, national, state, or sectoral delegates’ conference is a four yearly ritual without which no elected leadership at whatever level in this union will have legitimacy. The basis of any form of legitimate authority in NUP is the conduct of the quadrennial delegates’ conference to seek legal mandate for leadership from the members.”
Emphasising the importance of the day’s election, Abumisi urged delegates to vote wisely and called on the Ministry of Labour to stop giving recognition to self-acclaimed leaders who lacked legitimate authority.
“May I use this opportunity to sound a note of warning to all various groups in the Federal Civil Service branch claiming leadership and going about with different unrecognised, irrelevant and self-glorified titles to desist from such act.
“Power is gotten from the people through the ballot. Today is a day for the ballot to speak. I therefore enjoin all distinguished delegates here today to vote wisely for a leader of their choice.
“I also appeal to the Ministry of Labour, our supervising ministry, to please stop giving undue attention and recognition to any self-acclaimed leader of this branch henceforth. The result of this election must be sacrosanct,” he said.
Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the FCSB, Comrade Frederick Eguoba, in his address, also reflected on the challenges faced by the committee since its inauguration in April 2024.
“We have faced undaunted challenges from some of our disgruntled members who only believed in themselves,” he said.
Despite these obstacles, he expressed gratitude to those who opposed them, noting that the resistance made the committee more focused and determined to succeed.
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