Contributory pensioners lament on neglect by FG 

• not being benefiting any salary increase nor welfare allowances since 2007

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Dr. Abel Afolayan, on Tuesday said he has been reassured by the Acting Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Mr. Ekpo Nta that pensioners across the country would also benefit from the new national minimum wage.

Daily Trust reports that the new minimum wage bill was recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari few months ago.

Speaking at the National Executive Council meeting of the union in Ibadan, Oyo State Dr. Afolayan said Mr. Nta had assured them that the circular would be released soon.

In a swift reaction, Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, Chairman, NTA Association of Contributory Pensioners (NTA-ACPEN), Lagos in a press statement said contributory pensioners of the Federal Government have not being benefiting any salary increase nor welfare allowances since July, 2007.

“The Nigerian Union of Pensioners didn’t welcome us as members, because when the scheme was introduced The Federal Government then failed to include many benefits enjoyed under “The Old Pensioners Scheme” into the new scheme,  while the constitution says all federal government pensioners must enjoy the same privileges on welfare, still The NUP didn’t see us as partners, therefore, failed to carry us along and neither tried in assisting us in solving many of the lapses of the Federal Government at the inception of the new scheme.

“We have written to all government agencies concerning Contributory Pensioners plights, our employer NTA, NS&IWC, PENCOM yet no solution in site, despite the fact that we all served the same nation Nigeria, while old pensioners were enjoying the same benefits we’re now appealing to have.

“The NUP is on board of PenCom, but only representing the interest of the old pensioners, pretending that we “the contributory pensioners” don’t exist while all our memos to PenCom on our plights were treated with levity because the representative of The Nigerian Pensioners (NUP) known to them have nothing to do with our complaints.

“We hereby challenge NUP to state one benefit they’ve championed on behave of “The Contributory Pensioners”.

“We shall be very grateful if your organisation could help us bring the plights of “The Contributory Pensioners” to the attention of The Federal Government of Nigeria and all agencies of the federal government concerning “THE NIGERIAN CONTRIBUTORY PENSIONERS PLIGHTS”.