—Kicks against registration of new association

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA — The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene to stop what it described as an attempt to “balkanize” the union.
NUP’s plea to President Tinubu comes on the heels of the alleged registration of a new pension group by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Already, NUP has threatened to approach the National Industrial Court to challenge the registration of another group mostly from state employ.

It said the recent registration of a new retirees’ body by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment violates extant labour laws and threatens the unity of pensioners nationwide.

Speaking at an emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) in Abuja, the national President, Comrade Godwin Abumisi, described the registration of the new body as “disturbing developments” within the organisation.

Abumisi said the meeting was convened out of “great concern and deep worry over some ugly developments happening to our union,” stressing that the situation demanded urgent presidential intervention.

“Our meeting today (Monday) is a call for a rescue mission to prevent our union from being plunged into avoidable internal and external crises,” he said, blaming “the untoward activities of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.”

He pointed specifically to the ministry’s registration of the Association of Retirees of State Government, describing it as both destabilising and unlawful.

“It is already public knowledge that the ministry recently registered a body called ‘Association of Retirees of State Government’, which is a calculated action to destabilize the unity, solidarity, power of collectivity, and the peace that has reigned within the ranks of the union for decades,” Abumisi stated.

He emphasized that, beyond its implications for union cohesion, the action directly breaches Nigeria’s labour laws.

“It is incontrovertible that the action of the ministry contravenes the provisions of the Trade Unions Act Cap T.14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. This we should all rise up to prevent and resist with vigour,” he declared.

The NUP president noted that the alleged violation of the law forms the core of the union’s appeal to President Tinubu, urging him to act swiftly to safeguard the legal and institutional integrity of the union.

While expressing concern, Abumisi reaffirmed the union’s longstanding cordial relationship with the Federal Government and commended the Tinubu administration for ongoing reforms in the pension sector.

“NUP, from its inception, has been peaceful, peace-loving, and cooperative with all successive Federal Governments of Nigeria, most especially the current Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration,” he said.

He lauded the administration for approving the release of N58 billion for Defined Benefit Scheme pensioners and N758 billion for contributory pension increases, noting that the interventions have provided much-needed relief.

“We would continue to be grateful for the ongoing reformation in the nation’s pension industry… which has greatly provided succour and alleviated the untold hardship and sufferings of our members in recent times,” he added.

Despite the commendation, Abumisi warned that the progress recorded could be undermined if actions that violate labour laws and threaten union unity are not urgently addressed.