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By Mark Lenu
Pensioners in Rivers State have again thanked Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the Christmas Bonus he gave pensioners during Christmas, while appealing to the governor to clear backlog of pension arrears.
At a press conference in Port Harcourt, the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Rivers State Council, Comrade Sammy Eke also urged the state government to look into the payment of gratuities and death benefits
The NUP chairman said: “It is with great concern that I address you on this press conference mainly for two reasons, vide:
“1. To appeal to the State Government and all Pension Stakeholders to consider the plight of Pensioners in the State, to clear outstanding pension liabilities, by releasing bulk sum of funds for that purpose.
“2. To address the erroneous impression on the lingering crisis in the State Council of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, and with particular reference to the supposed emergence of the splinter group called NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RETIREES OF STATE GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA (NARSGON).
“However, may I use this opportunity to thank the amiable Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for:
“(i) Being Workers and Pensioners friendly, demonstrated in the ongoing renovation of the State Secretariat Complex.
“(ii) The payment of 100,000 naira Christmas Bonus to Pensioners, last December.
“(Iii) Setting up a Committee to review minimum Pension which was however ongoing before the Emergency Rule.
“(iv) We are hopefully expecting the implementation of the said Committee Report.
“(v) Adopting the 32,000 naira Minimum Pension in the State which was started in the Emergency Rule.”
The state NUP further said: “We are all aware that INEC has released the 2027 election guidelines and also that the National Headquarters of NLC led by Paschal Ajero has enjoined affiliate Unions to take advantage of the forthcoming new minimum wage negotiations to address whatever shortcomings they perceive in their States.
“It is on this premise I appeal to the Rivers State Government to graciously turnaround the fortune of Pensioners in the State before the 2027 general elections.
“We are also mindful that with the coming into effect of the new minimum will definitely increase the pension wage bill, but that should not deter you from doing the needful.
“The State Council of Nigeria Union of Pensioners is appealing to the State Executive Council and the State House of Assembly to graciously offset all Pension liabilities in order to give State Pensioners the sigh of relief.
“On the issue of NARSGON, we call on government at all levels, Pension Stakeholders and the General Public to disregard the Association and its claims, as their purported registration is under legal contest vide the suit No. NICN/ABJ/191/2026 in Abuja, and it is subsisting.”
