Members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, have called on President Bola Tinubu to offset the outstanding balance of N33 billion severance package of Nigeria Airways workers.
National President of the Union, Comrade Godwin Abumisi made the appeal during the 2023 Pensioners’ Day Commemoration, held at the headquarters of the Union in Abuja.
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Abumisi lauded the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari for approving the release and payment of the sum of N45 billion out of the N78 billion.
According to him, “The non-release of the funds for the settlement of the accrued rights is causing a lot of delay in the payment of monthly pension to this category of pensioners who cannot access their monthly payment and other entitlements without the payment of the accrued rights. The total accumulated accrued rights as at today stands at about N140billion.
“We hereby call on the Federal Government for its timely intervention to save the souls of this category of pensioners from untimely death. Payment of the Outstanding Balance of N33 billion to Nigeria Airways workers: Recalling that the Federal government in its wisdom decided to liquidate the Nigeria Airways in 2014 of which both the workers and the existing pensioners were paid off.
“The pay-off was calculated and put at N78billion, being the total liability. Out of the N78 billion, the sum of N45 billion was released and paid by the last administration, leaving the balance of N33billion unsettled.
“While commending the bold steps taken by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to approve, release and pay the sum of N45 billion out of the N78 billion, we wish to passionately appeal to the present administration to kindly rise to the occasion by directing the Presidential initiative continuous Audit (PICA), under the Federal Ministry of Finance, charged with the responsibility of handling this payment to expedite action on this pending payment without further delay, as many pensioners in this category waiting for the payment have died without enjoying the full fruits of their labour”.
The Union also regretted over the non-inclusion of pensioners in the distribution of palliatives, hence, they urged the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, to involve pensioners.
They said, “Regrettably, the pensioners who fall in the category of the most vulnerable persons in Nigerians with their peculiar challenges are always left out in the distribution of material and non-material palliative packages.
“It is on this premise that we wish to draw the attention of the Federal Government via the office of the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Betta Edu who is passionately committed to fighting the course of the poor vulnerable Nigerians to consider the inclusion of pensioners in the ongoing distribution of palliative packages, both within and outside the shores of the Federal Capital Territory, towards cushioning the biting effect of the economic hardship unleashed on Nigerians as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.
“On this note, we wish to suggest to the Federal Government that for any approved palliatives to get to our members across board, it should consider the use of Government Agencies that handle pension payments, with accurate database records, containing the account details of all pensioners for easy access and delivery.
“However, having made our position on the palliatives known, we also wish to use the occasion to highlight the current lingering challenges of our members across boards, begging for solutions, which include, but not limited to the following: Non-harmonization of Pension.
“The non-harmonization of pension had lingered on for too long. The Union had made several efforts towards achieving this, but it is yet to yield the desired result. However, I am happy to report to you that the Committee set up to work on the harmonization has concluded its assignment and submitted its report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation”.
Concluding, the Union boss, called for the non-harmonization of pension, which he noted had been a burden for many years.
He said, “We also wish to use the occasion to highlight the current lingering challenges of our members across boards, begging for solutions, which include, but not limited to the following: Non-harmonization of Pension: The non-harmonization of pension had lingered on for too long.
“The Union had made several efforts towards achieving this, but it is yet to yield the desired result. However, I am happy to report to you that the Committee set up to work on the harmonization has concluded its assignment and submitted its report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation”.
