By Victor Ahiuma-Young

ABUJA — Organised Labour in the Civil Service, on the aegis of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, NCSU, has called on the Federal Government to provide financial bailout to federal and state governments to enable them clear the backlog of gratuities and pensions owed retired public servants across the country.
Investigations revealed that only few states including Lagos that have paid pensions and gratuities to pensioners up to date.

NCSU said reports gathered from states of the federation showed that many retirees have remained unpaid for years, with some gratuities dating back to 2013, running into billions of naira.

It described the plight of pensioners as painful and unacceptable, warning that many senior citizens who served the nation diligently were dying in hardship.

The communiqué issued at the end of its extraordinary National Delegates Conference, NDC,in Abuja, NCSU’s President, Oluwole Sunday, and the General Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga, among others reads, “The experience being encountered by pensioners across the country is better imagined than experienced.

“The ex-rayed reports from across the states of the federation revealed that the majority of states are owing pensioners their gratuities as far back as 2013, running into billions of naira.

“It is an unimaginable scenario that workers who retired as far back as 13 years ago, including many others who retired recently, are yet to receive their entitlements.

“The best solution is for the Federal Government to intervene urgently by providing financial bailout for this purpose so as to enable senior citizens eats the fruits of their labour and not in the grave.”

NCSU further stressed that retirement was an inevitable stage of life and urged government officials and public administrators to show greater commitment to the welfare of retirees.

“Retirement is a natural sequence of life. Workers who are agile today will definitely be due for retirement one day; hence, the commitment of people saddled with corporate and public governance should be alive to the reality of life as humans,” the communiqué added.

On workers’ welfare, the NCSU insisted on agitation for an upward review of the minimum wage from N70, 000 to N200,000 to cushion the harsh economic situation confronting Nigerian workers.

According to the union, “The current salary structure has subjected workers to economic imprisonment,” insisting that an increase in wages had become necessary in view of the rising cost of living.

The conference also condemned the worsening insecurity across the country, particularly incidents of kidnapping and banditry in states such as Kaduna, Kwara, Borno, Ekiti and Niger.

The union lamented the abduction of teachers and pupils by kidnappers demanding huge ransom payments, including N1 billion and other items, and urged the Federal Government to urgently tackle the menace.

“The Federal Government is hereby called upon to find lasting solutions to the war-like kidnapping onslaught on hapless Nigerian workers,” it stated.

Meanwhile, the conference honoured Governor Mr Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State, who was named Best Governor of the Year for his worker-friendly policies and approval of career progression for Executive Officers from Grade Level 14 to Grade Level 15.

The union commended the governor for prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities, as well as sustaining industrial harmony in the state.