Pensioners end national delegates’ conference, elect Afolayan as national president

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has re-elected Dr Abel Afolayan as its National President, as the 10th National Delegates’ Conference of the union ends in Kaduna.

The conference ended with the election of new national officers who will run the affairs of the union for the next four years in a keenly contested election.

The orderly conduct of the election, according to Comrade Emma Ugboaja, who was seconded from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to oversee the electoral process, is a good example to follow by the larger political groups in Nigeria, other trade unions and labour leaders.

After the smooth conduct of the election, Comrade Ugboaja who announced the results in the presence of all, said Comrade Afolayan, the incumbent emerged the national president, with 321 votes, while his opponent, Alhaji Nojeedeen Ibrahim had 65 votes.

Other positions contested for as announced by Ugboaja include  National Auditor, Comrade Yohana Yakubu who had 317 votes and Comrade Moses Agunbiade with 49 votes; Vice-President, South West, Chief Ireal Ayeni, 310,  and Lateef Adegoke, 76 votes; Vice President, North Central, Mohammed Haliru, 303 and Femi Joseph 83; Vice President, South-South, Benjamin Etta, 303 and Elder T . S. Sukuye, 82; Vice President Parastatals, Kayode Ogunbiyi, 304 and Joseph Ogunyakin, 79 votes,  while for the National Trustee, Fagbemiye Joshua had 303 votes  and Samuel Akintunde, 78 votes.

In his address, Dr Afolayan thanked his members for re-electing him, and for the confidence repose in him and his elected colleagues, promising not to let them down.

On his score card in the last four years, he said “our persistent efforts led to the implementation and part payment of the 33 per cent pension increase in 2014 with a circular effective from July 2010. The payment of arrears is still in progress.

“We have successfully enlarge our coasts with the organisation and unionisation of more sectors to join the existing ones under our umbrella. Police, CIPPO, FRCN, Steel Rolling Mill, First Bank, NYSC, Contributory Pension are all now under the NUP umbrella.”

He pointed out that state councils and sectoral branches elections are regularly being conducted in line with the provision of the union’s constitution without any hitch ; while the union can now boast of its own national secretariat.

On the plights of pensioners, Afolayan stated that along with the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, they would mobilise thier members across the country to vote out governors who are owing salaries and pension during the 2019 election.

He lamented that most state governors are not treating their pensioners with required seriousness, commitment and concern.

According to him, in many states, pensioners are owed gratuities and pensions running into several months or even many years, adding that many states have not complied with the constitutional provision of five yearly pension review.

He pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to give bailouts to state governors “strictly for pensioners as they were given for their workers” to enable them offset pension liabilities.

Speaking during the event, Wabba described the non-payment of pension and salaries as “evil and condemnable,” adding that the political elites should be held responsible for the economic situation presently facing the country.

“Comrades, we have an opportunity. We thank God that INEC has allowed for the registration of those that do not have Permanent Voters Card. Every worker, every pensioner and their family must get voters card. Those governors that are doing well, we will support them. Those that have refused to pay us, we will show them the way out,” he said.

He lamented that many pensioners are unable to feed and send their children to school due to non payment of pension by the governors, stressing that some states still pay a minimum monthly pension of N4,000.

He said, “non payment of pension is evil and it’s condemnable. These are categories of senior citizens that have contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria. It is in our best interest to respect the rights of these senior citizens.

“The challenges we are passing through today as a country is not an act of God. It is an act made possible by some of us, especially the political class. And therefore, it will take a concious political class to take us out of this political class.”

Five governors, which include Lagos state governor, Akinwumi Ambode; Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun; Jigawa governor, Abdullahi Badaru; Plateau governor, Simon Lalong; Anambra governor, Willie Obiano and Yobe governor, Ibrahim Gaidam. Other awardees are Chairman House Committee on Pension, Hon. Hassan Shekarau and the Director, IPPIS, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.