By Ayodele Abere
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, South-West Nigeria, has rejected the N70,000 minimum wage that the labour leaders negotiated with the Federal Government and admonished them to go back to the negotiating table as they insist on the N250,000 they initially clamoured for.
This was part of the resolutions of the Union at its South-West Zonal Council Meeting held in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the members, the Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, South-West Nigeria, who also doubles as the Oyo State’s Secretary of the Union, Dr. Olusegun Abatan, said the two labour union leaders (NLC and TUC) that went into the negotiation shouldn’t have accepted the N70,000 saying that the federal government took advantage of the nalvity of Comrades Joe Ajero and Festus Osifo by tricking them into accepting it, and that the fuel price won’t be increased as part of the negotiation.
“No sooner they agreed that the federal government went ahead to increase the fuel price”, the PRO said.
On the implication of the local government autonomy, the NUP supports the move but insisted that whatever arrangement that is being put up either at the federal or various states of the federation, that the pension of the retired primary school teachers and local government pensioners shouldn’t be tampered with.
It was echoed at the meeting that the salaries of the teachers and the local government workers still in the service including the allowances of Chiefs and Traditional Rulers should be taken care of as first line charges after which the Chairmen can do whatever they want with the remaining money coming to them.
The union therefore urged the various governments to do something to ensure that crisis doesn’t emanate from the wholesome implementation of the local government autonomy.
While appealing to government to do the needful, they said it’s quite unfortunate that the governments are taking matters of constitution with levity noting that apart from Ondo State Government that has implemented the 33% pension increase, other states in the Southwest and other states of the federation are yet to implement it.
“Before the new minimum wage is finally negotiated, we want the state governments in the southwestern states to implement the 33% pension increases and the consequential adjustment done to pension wage in 2019”. If this is not done before the implementation of the new minimum wage/pension, al pensioners in the country will be short-changed. Dr. Abatan added.
However, the Pensioners expressed their pleasure over the attitudes of the South-West Governors to their members as exemplified in various states of Southwest Nigeria.
