Pensioners lament plot to break union, seek Tinubu’s intervention

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has sounded an alarm, urging President Bola Tinubu to step in and prevent what it describes as a deliberate attempt to fracture the union. The NUP contends that the recent registration of a new body, the Association of Retirees of State Government, by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment is a direct contravention of existing labor laws and poses a significant threat to the unity and collective strength of pensioners nationwide.

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Our meeting today is a call for a rescue mission in preventing our union from being plunged into avoidable internal and external crises.

Godwin Abumisi, the National President of NUP, articulated these concerns during an emergency National Executive Council meeting in Abuja. He characterized the ministry's action as a "calculated action to destabilise the unity, solidarity, power of collectivity and the peace that has been reigning within the ranks of the union for decades." Abumisi stressed that this move undermines the Trade Unions Act and called for vigorous resistance against such perceived attempts to weaken the established union structure.

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It is already public knowledge that the ministry recently registered a body… which is a calculated action to destabilise the unity, solidarity, power of collectivity and the peace that has been reigning within the ranks of the union for decades.

Despite these serious allegations against the ministry, the NUP leadership was keen to emphasize its generally cordial relationship with the Federal Government. Abumisi specifically praised President Tinubu's administration for its commitment to pension reforms, citing the approval of significant funds for Defined Benefit Scheme pensioners and contributory pension increases. These measures, he noted, have provided much-needed relief to retirees grappling with economic challenges. The NUP's stance highlights a complex dynamic: while appreciative of government efforts in pension reform, it remains vigilant against actions that could undermine the union's foundational principles and operational integrity. The Punch's reporting on this matter provides a platform for these critical discussions within Nigeria's labor sector.

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It is incontrovertible that the action of the ministry contravenes the provisions of the Trade Unions Act… This we should all rise up to prevent and resist with vigour.