Pensioners Union Orders Compulsory Retirement Of General Secretary

Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has ordered the compulsory retirement of its general secretary, Comrade Actor Zal, citing age and length-of-service limits under the union’s service scheme which aligned with federal public service regulations.

The decision was disclosed in Abuja by the national president of the union, Comrade Godwin Abumisi, where he read and circulated a formal notice of compulsory retirement issued to the general secretary with effect from February 10, 2026.

According to Abumisi, Zal had served the union for over 42 years and had also attained the age of 65, exceeding the retirement thresholds applicable to staff of the union.

He said NUP operates a service scheme comparable to that of the Federal Public Service, which prescribes retirement at either 35 years of service or 60 years of age, whichever comes first, with internal adjustments extending it to 40 years or 65 years for union staff.

The NUP president said the decision followed deliberations of the National Executive Council (NEC) held on December 9, 2025, where gaps in the union’s constitution and administrative structure were reviewed.

He explained that the NEC resolved, among other things, that all staff of the union must be subject to retirement and that the president should serve as the chief executive officer of the organisation.

He said, “I am pleased to notify you of your compulsory retirement, having served the Union for over forty two (42) years and, having attained over sixty five (65) years of age as a career officer in the services of Nigeria Union of Pensioners.

You are therefore, expected to hand over office administration, including all Union properties and assets, moveable and non-moveable to the Deputy General Secretary for continued administrative processes.”

Abumisi also disclosed that the union is currently embroiled in a separate dispute with the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment over the suspension of its amended constitution.

He said the constitution, approved on September 13, 2025, and gazetted on September 18, 2025, was subsequently withdrawn by the ministry, allegedly following complaints from the general secretary, despite the document having gone through due process.