The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Electricity pensioners

  • Electricity pensioners expel ex-chairman, six others

    The Electricity sector branch of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has expelled its former National Chairman, Chief Temple Ubani and six others.

    It also asked all relevant government agencies to stop deducting and remitting their check off.

    The others expelled at the Special National Delegates Conference are Comrade P.I Ogedengbe Com. MZA Alkadaiyah, Comrade Abibu Otuas, Comrade Isa Olarewaju, Comrade M.G Yerima and Comrade G.E Njoku.

    In a communiqué by secretary of the branch, Elder Alex Abu, the union also elected Alhaji Idi Bawa Gaidam as the new chairman to steer affairs of the union.

    Others elected include Chief Ebenezer Jebutu (Deputy Chairman); Com. Zechariah Usman (Treasurer); Aborishade Balogun (Auditor); Com. Benjamin Bodamisi (V/Chairman North Central); Com. Bakare Mustapha (V/Chairman North East); Com. Babs Ileasu (V/Chairman North West); Com. Nzekwe Ikenna

    (V/Chairman South East), Com. Adodo M. Andrews (V/Chairman South South), Com. Bashorun Ayoola (V/Chairman South West), Com. Rotimi Abolaji (Public Relations) while Com. Mariam Usman and Com. Samuel Efetobor will serve as trustees.

    National President of the NUP, Dr. Abel Afolayan commended the caretaker committee brought in to rescue the situation in the union for rising up to the occasion and providing quality leadership to the sector.

    Buhari congratulates Falana on 60th birthday President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday saluted erudite lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) on his 60th birthday.

    Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, joined family members, friends and professional colleagues of the cerebral lawyer in celebrating the milestone. The president noted with delight that Falana’s career as a lawyer had been marked with honours and awards for forthrightness and advocacy for the good of every Nigerian.

     

    He therefore commended his sense of patriotism over the years, and his advisory roles to leaders, institutions and governments, especially on the value of good governance.

    The President believed that Falana’s antecedents had been most exemplary and commendable in advocating for a better life for the poor and underprivileged.

     

  • Electricity pensioners protest non-payment of 33% increase

    The Coordinator of Concerned Group of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Electricity Sector, Comrade Timothy Akintola, has urged the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to pay their members 33 per cent pension increase.

    Akintola spoke during the group’s protest at PTAD Liaison Office in Lagos to present its letter to PTAD management.

    The activist said the 33 per cent pension increase is a constitutional issue that should not be withheld or altered to the disadvantage of any pensioner.

    He said: “The NUP’s electricity sector pensioners have not been paid their 33 per cent since 2010. This is not fair as ministries and corporations have been paid. They are collecting their emoluments monthly.

    “All we are asking for is for PTAD to start the implementation of the 33 per cent of the pension increase for our members.”

    Akintola said the arrears from 2010 should be computed and paid to members, adding that it would alleviate their suffering.

    Chief Ebenezer Jebutu, a member of NUP’s Electricity Sector’s National Trustee Caretaker Committee, said the committee supported that 33 per cent of pension increase and arrears be paid to them.

    He said the committee knew that there were crises in the union, adding that this should not deny the concerned groups their pension rights.

    Mr. Kolawole Lateef, the Secretary of NUP’s Electricity sector in Ijora chapter, said they wanted their 33 per cent to be paid in full as had been paid to other ministries and corporations.

    He said their members had been captured by PTAD, adding that there should be no further delay in the payment of their pension.

    Prince Moses Adewale, a member of Lagos Island chapter of NUP’s Electricity sector, said most of their members had died while waiting to be paid the pension increase.

    He said the 33 per cent was their right and should be implemented so that they would enjoy the labour they had put in for years.

    Mrs. Funmilayo Onafowokan, the Director at PTAD Pension Support Services Department in the Lagos Liaison Office, met with the concerned group officials.

    The PTED official said the agency had discussed and resolved the issues.

    She said: “We have been in a meeting for the past one and a half hours. The complaints were brought to the table and PTAD has responded to them. The pensioners’ grievances will be attended to.”

  • Electricity pensioners seek Buhari’s, NASS intervention

    Electricity pensioners seek Buhari’s, NASS intervention

    The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (Electricity Sector) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to deploy the change mantra of his administration to ameliorate its members’travails.

    Its President, Comrade Temple Ubani who, spoke at a briefing in Lagos, appealed to the Chairman, Joint Committee on Appropriations of the National Assembly (NASS), Senator Danjuma Goje to assist the union.

    Ubani said the issues  affecting his members ranged from the discriminatory and wrong classification of the PHCN pension under capital supplementation, irregular funding of their pension, persistent delays in the release of funds and payment of their monthly pensions, failure to pay arrears of pensions and other retirement benefits, denial of the 33 per cent pension increase, among others.

    He appealed to President Buhari to urgently intervene by prevailing on the joint committee on appropriation of NASS to ensure that his members pension fund is taken out of capital supplementation to Service Wide Vote, which is the recurrent expenditure in the budget as practised all over the world.

    He said the pension payment be removed from Authority to Incure Expenditure (AIE) which delay their pension payment and put on the Government Integreated Finacial Management Information System (GIFMIS)  Platform as is the case with all other pensioners in the country.

    He  added: “The relevant authorities should ensure regular and prompt payment of their pensions as at when other pensioners are being paid so as to alleviate their sufferings.

    “President Buhari should intervene to see that all outstanding pensioner/next of kin entitlements are provided for in the budget and paid.

    “The National Salaries Income and Wages Commission should be directed to with immediate effect, implement 33 per cent pension increase to our members as it affects other pensioners in the country.”

    He also appealed to other relevant authorities, including Minister of Finance, Minister of Budget and National Planning; Minister of Labour and Productivity; Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation; Accountant-General of the Federation; Auditor-General of the Federation; Director-General Budget Office of the Federation; Director-General/Executive Secretary, PTAD; Director-General/Chief Executive, NELMCO; and Chairman, National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission to help them.

  • Electricity pensioners protest alleged non-payment of salaries

    Former workers of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc acting under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Kwara State chapter yesterday protested against  alleged non-payment of their salaries and other entitlements.

    The protesters thronged the Challenge Office of the company in Ilorin, wielding different placards.

    They urged the Federal Government and the Board of Nigeria Electricity Liability Management, GTE/LTD to address their plights.

    The protesters however did not obstruct human and vehicular traffic within the company as they did not block the entrance to the IBEDC, Challenge Unit office.

    Some of the placards read: ‘FG & NEMCO please pay our monthly pension and gratuity and other benefits.’ ‘FG, let your agreement of 2012 prior to privatisation of PHCN stand; We are old people. You too will be old.’ ‘FG be sympathetic and pay us our entitlement and other benefits;  NELMCO/FG, we are old people. Don’t let us die.’