The national leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has dissociated itself from any planned protest on the recently announced N32,000 pension increment by the federal government.
The union cautioned its members nationwide to avoid participation in any such demonstration.
Following a stakeholders’ engagement convened by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) in Abuja, NUP’s deputy national president, Abdulahi Onu, clarified that the union remains committed to peaceful dialogue and constructive engagement with the authorities rather than taking to the streets.
According to Onu, the NUP is satisfied with the clarification by PTAD on the increment and was confident in the ongoing process to clear the arrears owed pensioners.
He reiterated that the union had not sanctioned any protest and disavowed the actions of splinter groups or individuals operating outside the framework of the union’s national leadership.
He distanced the union from protest plans allegedly being circulated by certain groups, describing such moves as unauthorised and misrepresentative of the official position of the union.
Onu emphasised that only the NUP national leadership is constitutionally empowered to issue such directives on behalf of its members.
“Our leadership representing members across the country is satisfied with the explanation of PTAD on the issue of the N32,000 pension increment and its efforts at clearing the arrears, we equally appreciate President Tinubu for all his efforts at bettering the living conditions of pensioners.
We are also directing all our members to stay away from the rumoüred protest called by some pensioners. PTAD is currently attending to the issues and concerns of all pensioners regarding the N32,000 pension increase and we trust that the efforts of the agency towards making payment will come to fruition in no distant time”, Onu stated.
“No group of pensioners, chapter, or sector should decide, let alone send out a circular announcing a protest or any form of industrial action without the consent of the national leadership, it is not right and neither is it the character of a responsible trade union,” he warned.
