Don’t Assent Contributory Pension Scheme Bill, Labour Tells Gov Otu

The Organised Labour in Cross River State comprising the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress NLC), has asked the state governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, not to give assent to the Contributory Pension Scheme Bill sent to him by the State House of Assembly until there was engagement with Labour leaders on the proposed legislation.

The Labour leaders threatened an industrial action should the state governor go ahead to assent the Bill.

The Labour leaders issued the warning on Wednesday at the end of a Labour stakeholders brainstorming session, which took place at the NLC secretariat in Calabar, the state capital.

The organised labour, which also includes the State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (SJPSNC), carpeted the Cross River State House of Assembly for hurriedly passing the Pension Bill into law even when the House was on recess with its parliamentary staff on strike.

A communique dated November 21, 2023, jointly signed by the State NLC chairman, Comrade Gregory Olayi, and state secretary, Comr. Odong Bassey Eke, TUC state chairman/secretary JNC, Comrade Monday Ogbodum, TUC secretary, Comr. Ken Bassey, JNC chairman, Comr. Akan Raymond Afu, urged Governor Otu to desist forthwith from assenting to the Bill.

“It is our belief that His Excellency will do the needful by engaging with Labour and stakeholders on this issue before any action is further taken on the Bill to avoid industrial crises.

“The labour has observed with dismay the initial friendly disposition of His Excellency, the governor towards labour being replaced by one of unfriendliness, imposition, unconstructive due to the work of fifth columnists who seek to benefit from protracted labour crises.

“Government should not impose improper, unwelcomed and unacceptable policies on Cross River State, if truly the governor’s mantra is peoples’ first.

“That Labour relies on the provisions of Section 3 of Labour Act Cap Lt, Laws of the Federation 2004, which provides for the consent of employees before any deduction is effected on salary,” the Labour communique stated.