Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) South West Zone (Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos and Osun states) have resolved to sue their State governments over outstanding pension and gratuities.
Mr Ayo Kumapayi and Olusegun Abatan Zonal Chairman and Spokesman for the zone respectively unveiled their plan at the end of the zonal meeting held on Thursday in Akure.
According to them, the union has discovered that nonpayment of gratuity to pensioners is not only in South West but throughout the federation and they are left with no other option than to use the courts to compel the governors to pay their entitlements. The union said they were giving the governors between now and July to pay up or face litigations.
Mr Abatan specifically mentioned the case of Ogun State, where pensioners were falling sick and dying, adding that similar situations had been recorded in rising cases in Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Osun and Ondo states as a result of unpaid pensions and gratuities.
Below are some extracts from their speech,
“It has become a tradition of Nigerian governors to the extent that pensioners are not paid from 2008 to 2019.
“It has become a very serious affair and many of our pensioners have been dying prematurely as a result of this non-payment of gratuity.
“So, the South West Zone of NUP has decided to test certain parts of Nigeria constitution in a competent court of law.
“We want to determine whether it is constitutional that state governors should not pay gratuities and pension as at when due.
“Or if it is constitutional for them not to pay us, we want to determine it and if it is unconstitutional, then we will go further to determine the next level to take.”
“It is distasteful and wicked that civil servants who work for 35 years and entitled to gratuity and pension but not paid as at when due.
Mr Kumapayi also said the union discovered that the governors had failed to pay pensioners due to reckless spending on salaries and allowances of political office holders.
“The NUP, therefore, calls for reduction of governors and lawmakers salaries packages and government should stop paying them life pension.
“Section 124 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, states that those at the categories of collecting pension and gratuity, are definitely not lawmakers.
“Because you served for four or eight years and you want to take pension for life, what of those who served for 35 years.”
“President Buhari should use his second term in office to do something about such take home by our federal lawmakers.”
“They should be placed on same salary scale with the civil servants to reduce pressure on the nation’s economy.
“Those who want to genuinely serve will take it, political offices have been turned into money making venture and no longer for service to humanity.”
“Humongous salaries and allowances of public office holders especially senators and House Representatives members who take home N13 million and N14 million monthly need to be reviewed. How can those people be collecting such huge money in a country where 80% are battling to meet daily meal?”
The labour leaders called for a review of law setting up the Revenue Mobilisations, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to empower it to place all the political office holders including the president, governors, ministers, federal and state lawmakers on the same salary scale with civil servants from Grade Level 18 to Grade Level 25 in the country.
Also speaking, the National Deputy General Secretary of NUP, Chief Joseph Okunade said the national leadership of the pensioners was in full support of the legal action against the state governors.
“We call for inclusion of retirees in the new N30,000 minimum wage to be known as the National Minimum Pension.
“We advise governors who are grumbling over payment of the new wage to shun frivolous spending to enable them meet workers and pensioners’ needs,” Okunade said.
(NAN)
