The Nigeria Union of Pensioners has demanded for increase in the national minimum pension in line with the Nigeria Labour Congress’ demand for increase in minimum wage.
Abel Afolayan, National President, NUP, made the demand at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.
He called on the Federal Government to take into consideration the NUP, as it moved to increase a new wage for the Nigerian workers.
According to him, we would like to emphasise again that whatever is finally approved as the national minimum wage should equally apply to pensioners, as national minimum pension with a corresponding circular clearly stating minimum pension.
He said their demand should not come after the release of the new minimum wage circular, adding that this will help the union and its members.
The NUP said it would not want a repeat of 2010 minimum wage and pension review experience, where the union had to be running from pillar to post before theirs was approved.
Afolayan said: “It is also important to add here that state governments should take a cue from the Federal Government that whatever is the final agreement reached by the tripartite committee as minimum wage, same should apply to all state pensioners as minimum pension.”
This, he said, was in accordance with section 210 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
According to him, for justice and fairness, and in line with the spirit and letter of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, sections 173 (3) and 210 (3), minimum wage and minimum pension should be the same.
He said: “This is our position, this is our demand and we hope the press will join us to say this to the world, while we intensify efforts to appeal to the Federal Government to do the needful.”
He called on the Federal Government to speed up payment for the balance of the 12 months arrears of the 33 per cent pension increase of 2010.
Afolayan said that the payment of the balance of the arrears was long overdue, adding that NUP had made several submissions and appeals at different fora to the government through PTAD for this payment but to no avail.
He said: “The leadership of the union therefore can no longer contain the anger of its members, who have been spoiling for a show down with the Federal Government over the non-payment.
“Consequently, and having been pushed to the wall, we are compelled to issue a 21-day ultimatum to PTAD in compliance with the extant labour laws, after which if no payment is made, pensioners would embark on a protest to picket PTAD and other relevant offices connected with this payment.”
He called for immediate action to effect the payment in order to make such a course of action unnecessary, and as a mark of respect for us the elderly and senior citizens of this country.
Pensioners demand increase in national minimum pension
