May 1: Pay Our Outstanding Promotion, Pension Arrears, SSAEAC Tells Federal, State Govts

The Nigerian Electricity Management Services Angency (NEMSA) branch of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) has called on the Federal and State governments to immediately pay all outstanding promotion and pension arrears due to its members.

SSAEAC made the call in a statement on Monday to felicitate with all Nigerian workers both in the formal and informal sectors of the economy on the occasion of National Workers Day slated for May 1, 2024.

The statement jointly signed by Comr. Engr. John Obajinmi and Comr. Dogo Ezekiel, Branch President and Secretary, respectively, noted that given the current economic realities, it was imperative that the federal and state governments support the workers who have laboured assiduously by clearing all their outstanding promotion and pension arrears.

“We send special appreciations to all employers who engage the services of intelligent and hardworking people of Nigeria in various fields and we also salute the employees for their tireless wonderful contributions towards building the economy and the nation.

“The United Nation, through its Agency; International Labour Organization (ILO) has been the major force backing establishment and operations of the labour union movements via its conventions 1919, 1944 and 1998 which seek joint collaborative platform for workers and management to forge industrial harmony in order to ensure better social benefits, improved welfare, fair justice, respect of fundamental rights and above all, enhanced productivity. No doubt, as a country, we can count our blessings through constructive engagements of government authorities by labour unions over the years.

“In the face of current economic realities in Nigeria, it is imperative that the federal and state governments support the workers who have laboured assiduously by clearing all outstanding promotional and pension arrears owed them. So many workers are being owed several years of promotional arrears.

“We call on the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and state governors to ensure prompt and proper payments of legitimate entitlements of workers that have accumulated over the years. Doing this will ensure that we keep a motivated workforce that will continue to build and sustain the nation. Similarly, prompt payment of pension arrears will help pensioners to cope with life after retirement and as well clear the doubts of workers who are still active in service regarding their fate after retirement,” they said.

SSAEAC, therefore, advised the federal and state governments to institute policies and mechanisms that will ensure that promotional exams and related activities were concluded latest December preceding effective new promotion kick-off dates in January.

“This will prevent unnecessary pilling up of promotional arrears, therefore, guaranteeing full dedication of motivate workforce,” it stated.