By Mark Lenu
The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, (NUP) Rivers State Council has urged the public “not to have any dealings with Gbarabee – led pension association,” describing it as illegal.
A statement jointly signed by the state NUP Chairman, Comrade Sammy Eke and Secretary, Comrade Joseph J. Agbo, said: “The attention of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has been drawn to the activities of a group of people who calls themselves ‘The National Association of Retirees of State Government,’ under the leadership of one Zegare T. Gbarabee and Isa Shaibu as Chairman and Secretary respectively.
“The Nigeria Union of Pensioners Rivers State Council wishes to inform the Rivers State Government and the general public as follows:
“1. That the registration of the purported National Association of Retirees of State Government of Nigeria is a subject of litigation vide suit No. NICN/AR/191/ 2026.in Abuja.
“2. The registration (if any) did not follow the due process of Trade Union Act of 2005 as amended
“3. The Trade Union Act does not allow for the registration of another Union where there is subsisting one in the same field of Trade.
“4. The protagonists of the Association, Comrades Zegare T. Gbarabee and Isa Shaibu as Chairman and Secretary respectively and their cohorts are all Members Of Nigeria Union Of Pensioners with R/S Government Pensions ID Cards
“The purported State Chairman of the Association, Comrade Zegare T. Gbarabee was the same person who contested but lost the NUP Chairmanship Election on the 9th of April, 2026. Yet Gbarabee claims that the Registration of NARSGON, preceded the April 9, NUP Election.
“5. The supposed State Council of NARSGON, and the emergence of its executive remains ominous and inconceivable to every pension stakeholder and any responsible organisation in the state, therefore should be discountenanced.
“The general public, Rivers State Government and in particular pensioners in the state should not have any dealing with the said association as such dealings are illegal and perilous,” the NUP leaders said.
Our correspondent could not get response to this position as of the time of this report.
