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By Correspondent in Abuja.
L-R: Comrade Sylva Nwaiwu and two important personalities at the occasion.
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of its members while working to strengthen the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in the country.
The National Chairman of NUPCPS, Com. Sylva Nwaiwu, made the declaration during the union’s ninth anniversary celebration held in Abuja on Friday.
Our correspondent reports that the event was themed, “Freedom of Association: A Fundamental Human Right in Nigeria.”
Nwaiwu described the theme as central to the survival and growth of the union.
“We have endured nine years of intense struggle, opposition and attacks by both visible and invisible forces,” he said.
He recalled that although the CPS was introduced in 2004, with retirements under the scheme beginning in 2007, retirees were not unionised until 2017.
According to him, NUPCPS was officially recognised and inaugurated in 2017 as a sector of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), following approval by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.
The inauguration, he said, was witnessed by major stakeholders in the pension industry, including representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the National Pension Commission (PenCom), the National Assembly and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Com.Nwaiwu recalled that before the establishment of the CPS sector within the NUP, retirees faced numerous challenges such as under-appropriation of pension budgets, non-release of approved funds and arrears of about 20 months in the remittance of accrued rights.
The national chairman added that retirees were denied pension increases and often waited months or even years before accessing their benefits.
However, he said sustained engagement with the National Assembly, PenCom and other stakeholders had yielded significant improvements in the administration of the scheme.
“Pension budgets are now fully appropriated and released as and when due, while remittance of accrued rights has been regularised with zero arrears.
“CPS retirees now receive their retirement benefits in the same month of retirement, unlike in the past when they waited for months or years.
“Pension increases have also been extended to CPS retirees, including those who transited from the old Defined Benefit Scheme, with arrears being addressed,” he said.
The chairman cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees the right of every person to assemble freely and associate with others, including forming or belonging to trade unions.
He expressed concern over what he described as attempts to fragment the NUP through the creation of parallel unions.
According to him, some individuals are pushing for the registration of a separate union for CPS retirees despite the existence of NUPCPS as a recognised sector under the NUP.
Nwaiwu who said the sector had grown significantly over the past nine years, with structures established in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, vowed to resist any attempt to sever it from the parent union.
He appealed to the Minister of Labour and Employment to safeguard the constitutional right of NUPCPS members to freedom of association, describing them as bona fide Nigerian citizens and senior citizens deserving of protection.
The national chairman commended the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu and the Director-General of PenCom, Ms Bridget Oloworaran, for ongoing reforms in the pension sector.
He also praised the leadership of the NUP and the media for advancing the welfare of CPS retirees.
In his remarks, the Senior Assistant General Secretary of the NUP, Alhaji Ahmed Gazali, lamented that pensioners were yet to receive the palliative package promised by the Federal Government.
He recalled that in October 2023, following negotiations between the government and organised labour, it was agreed that workers would receive ₦30,000 for six months, while pensioners would receive ₦25,000 for three months.
“Workers have benefited, but up to this moment, pensioners are yet to receive the three months’ palliative package. Pensioners will not forget this.
“We call on the President to direct the appropriate authorities to ensure that this three months’ palliative package is paid to pensioners,” Gazali said.
He added that Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) now process payments directly without forwarding them to PenCom for approval, a development he described as a positive reform.
Gazali also highlighted the importance of health insurance coverage for retirees under the PENCARE initiative, noting that access to free medical services would significantly improve the quality of life of elderly citizens.
He called on the Federal Government to ensure compliance with constitutional provisions on pension increases, particularly by employers in the private sector.
Gazali also commended the Director-General of PenCom for her innovations and reforms in the pension industry.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
