•Claim is false, they’re paid before workers — NPA

By Tunde Oso

Retirees of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have threatened to embark on a nationwide protest due to their over 16 years accrued unpaid constitutional pension benefits, which according to them, has subjected their members to living in ‘penury and trauma.’

Addressing a press conference in Lagos, the body under the aegis of the Nigerian Ports Authority Pensioners Welfare Association led by its President, Mr Charles Ayo Binitie, stated that the protest, which would include shutting all the nation’s seaports,will commence seven days after this publication, should the NPA management fail to urgently implement the constitutionally stipulated every five years payment increment, which has been denied them since 2008.

However, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, General Manager, Corporate Affairs, NPA has debunked their claim, insisting, “We are not owing our pensioners. I like to put it on record that our pensioners are even paid before the staff that are currently working,” adding “Since its inception, NPA has been committed to the welfare of their workers including pensioners.” 

Binitie insisted that many NPA retirees were living in abject poverty, and dying daily because of hunger, and their inability to afford good medical care for the pensioners who are not covered by the company’s health policy.

The Association’s President further stated: “It is sad and regrettable to say the least, that amid the biting inflation and economic downturn in Nigeria, only a few NPA retirees receive up to N100,000,while more than 50% of them earn between N50,000, to as low as N30,000 monthly.

Binitie added:”Despite the fact that the NPA remains a first grade parastatal like the NNPC, her retirees were paid peanuts, and their so-called increment falls short of the constitutional provision in Section173, Sub Section 3.

Still, even when that law states that all pensioners are entitled to pay increase every five years and whenever there is increment for the in service, however the management just adds whatever amount she likes, which mostly hovers between 3 – 11.5 percent

The association’s leader decried the fact that since 2008,the NPA management had failed to implement this incremental policy despite efforts made by the retirees to see it done

“We have written to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), the Presidency through the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) over this pension benefits progression,and have presented relevant documents to NSIWC, but nothing concrete has been done till now.

He equally stated that the management’s argument had always been that the NPA Pensioners Welfare Association was factionalised, which according to him was not true.

Binitie further stressed that the retirees’ plight had become unbearable, urging well-meaning Nigerians and the Presidency,to prevail on the NPA, to “expeditiously do the needful by paying them their constitutionally stipulated benefits from 2008 to date, including the increase accruing from the 2024 new minimum wage.”

According to Onyemekara, “You can check our record. On our pensioners, we have the most robust pension scheme. And even before our staff take their salaries, they are being paid. Our genuine pensioners get their salaries and entitlements before our workers and they are also entitled to medical care. 

“However, on the flip side, if you go to CAC, that association is inactive. What has been happening is that different factions are claiming ownership of the running of the association. And as a responsible organisation, we’re saying, look, we don’t have to have you as an association before we take care of our pensioners.

“You know, as a very low-abiding institution. Yes, sir. Before we begin to respond or entertain enquiries or, you know, in every organisation, you have a channel of engagement.

“We are to engage you as an association. You need to go and sort yourself out. You need to go and hear yourself of any encumbrances in your leadership, as it were, before we can engage you.

“So, because normally, as an organisation, for such an association, if you want to hold an election to elect your leaders, what you normally do, you inform the authority, officers of labour and employee relations, they will be there to witness the election. And at the end of the election, they will sign and say, yes, this is the leadership. So, you need to ask them whether such a thing happened.

“So, as far as the MP is concerned, we don’t have, especially from the dignity or whatever name he calls himself, he’s parading himself illegally. And we cannot comment on whatever he’s talking about. That’s what I need to, but as far as our pensioners are concerned, they are one of the most taken care of, as far as this country is concerned.