By Innocent Anaba

Pensioners of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, have appealed to the Federal Government to intervene in their long-standing pension dispute, urging authorities to replicate the conciliatory approach recently adopted in resolving the crisis with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
The pensioners commended President Bola Tinubu for demonstrating political will through the signing of the landmark agreement with ASUU, describing the move as proof that the government can resolve protracted welfare and industrial disputes through sincerity and dialogue.
In a statement by David Edogiawerie and Samuel Isokpunwu, the retirees said the ASUU settlement, which ended a dispute dating back to 2009, has rekindled hope among CBN pensioners whose own case has lingered for 26 years.
They explained that the dispute began in 1997, following the Federal Government’s Policy on Harmonisation of Pensions aimed at eliminating disparities among retirees on the same grade level and years of service but who exited at different periods.
According to them, the matter led to a Federal High Court judgment on May 22, 2000, which was later affirmed by the Supreme Court on May 21, 2010 in favour of the pensioners.
The group, however, lamented that despite the apex court ruling, the CBN had continued to engage them in prolonged litigation, including enforcement battles, while allegedly resorting to acts of intimidation and self-help even as related matters remain before the court.
They, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to direct the apex bank to adopt the same spirit of fairness and constructive engagement shown in the ASUU resolution to bring closure to the lingering pension crisis.
“The government has shown that no dispute is too old to resolve when justice and compassion are allowed to prevail. We plead that the same humane approach be extended to retired CBN staff,” the statement added.