NLC strike: Ondo pensioners lament 42 years outstanding entitlements, solicit labour’s intervention

With the commencement of the nationwide strike action called by the
Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to protest government's poor response to
the demand for increment in the minimum wage of workers, the Ondo
State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, NUP, has called on
the labour leadership to also come to the aid of senior citizens in
the fight for their long overdue entitlements.

The appeal to the labour unions was contained in a communique signed
and issued at the end of its meeting Wednesday in Akure, the state
capital, by the state chairman of the National Union of Pensioners,
Chief Raphael Adetuwo.

The NUP chairman who revealed that the years of unpaid entitlements
have subjected pensioners to untold hardship in the state disclosed
that some of their members are still being owned 42 years of
outstanding entitlements.

He also stated that pensioners are yet to be paid five months pension
and gratuities since 2012, adding that the 33 per cent pension
increment has not been approved by the state government since 2014.

Chief Adetuwo premised the outcry on the recent directive by President
Muhammadu Buhari to governors on payment of salaries and pensions,
adding that old age hazards are bitter experiences among them as well
as on their family members.

"15 per cent pension increase paid to state pensioners in 2012 is yet
to be paid to the local government pensioners including primary school
pensioners.

"Arrears of monthly pension as a result of delay in the payment of
monthly pension after retirement are yet to be paid since 2012.
Gratuities to state pensioners who served Federal Government between
1972 and 1976 are yet to be paid."

The NUP chairman, who accused the state government of shirking away
from its responsibilities, urged the labour leadership in the state to
come to their rescue.

"The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Ondo State chapter
is making a clarion call on Nigeria Labour Congress Ondo State chapter
to assist pensioners in the state to fight for their entitlements long
overdue," he said.

Meanwhile, the organised labour Unions in the state had directed all
workers to down tools in a bid to press for the implementation of a
new national minimum wage by federal and state governments.

In a statement jointly signed by the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour
Congress (NLC), Comrade Tayo Ogunleye and his Trade Union Congress,
(TUC) counterpart, Comrade Soladoye Ekundayo, they said the warning
strike would be in line with the directive of their national
leadership.

They directed that all public establishments and some private offices
including; government hospitals, schools, offices and banks are
expected to be shut down.