By Yahaya Zakka Minna.
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP),Niger State council has called on the state Governor, Alhaji Dr Abubakar Sani Bello to as matter of urgency restrict the ministry of Tertiary education, science and technology from handling pension related matters and to restore the full function’s of pension board from the ministry.
This was contained in a communique at the end of an emergency council meeting of the Union signed by the Chairman,Comrade Isyaku S. Ndagi and the State Secretary, Comrade Abdullahi Baba Sani and made available to Journalist’s in Minna.
The meeting which deliberated on some lingering issues affecting Pensioners both in the state and local government areas, commends the efforts of organized Labor in engaging the state government on retirees welfare, especially as it affects payment of pension and gratuity.
“The Nigeria Union of Pensioners,align completely with the position of the organized Labor as contained in their letters to the Governor “.
The Union equally Appeals to the state assembly to heed the call by the organized Labor to amend the CPS law by expunging the alien retrospective clause inserted in the law in order to unfairly co-opts civil servants that were already in the employment oof the state before 2007when the law was domesticated in the state.
The council in session further Appeals to Retirees in the state to give their maximum co-operation and understanding to the organized Labor and the Union to enable the Union pursue their legitimate benefits with the state government.
The executives of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners before the meeting took members to the permanent site of the Union, where members were unvailled the gigantic edifice which is to serve as office accomodations and a conference hall constructed by the Union which is at completion stage.
Earlier in his speech the Deputy Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP Hon Samuel Gonna and a high powered delegates from the party secretariat who represented the Govornaship candidate Alhaji Isa Liman kantigi, said they were in the meeting to show Kantigis solidarity and concerns for the plight of Retirees in the state.
Hon Samuel Gonna said that no any sensitive and God fearing government would put retirees into this hardship after putting thirty eight years in service to get the state to where it is today.
Hon Samuel Gonna stated that due to the importance Kantigi and the party attached for the retirees, he deemed it necessary to send them to represent him and to assure them that if elected Pensioners plight and welfare shall be accorded priority, “I assure you that if elected I shall do everything humanly possible to settle all gratuities and I shall improve on your welfare if elected he said “.
He said government supposed to know when civil servants are engaged and when to retire, hence adquate arrangements should have been done for the settlement of their gratuities, adding that most of the retirees depends on gratuity to start a new life.
He Appeals to them to come out en mass to vote People’s Democratic party PDP candidates who would if elected reposition the state and the civil service for better.
Hon Liman kantigi gave them two million naira for refreshments for those that were in the meeting and promised to do more.