The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) 2006/2007 Pensioners on Friday urged the management of the organisation to pay the arrears of their pension.
The National Chairman of NPA Pensioners, Mr Charles Binitie, made the plea during the Liberation Day Celebration organised by the pensioners in Lagos.
“We pray that the Managing Director, Malam Habib Abdullahi, and his team that has started the payment of the monthly pensions and the January to June 2014 pension arrears, to continue after May 2015.
“We urge them to continue with other outstanding pension arrears in like manner until
the payment terminates.
“We also pray that you revisit the case of our young and talented technical trainees who have completed their training and consider them for re-absorption.
“They are still very young and the NPA has spent so much on them. So, on humanitarian ground, their training can still be useful to the authority, ’’ Binitie said.
He commended the efforts of the media in ensuring that the Federal Government and the management of NPA listened and addressed the issue of their payment of their pension arrears.
He urged the management of NPA to expedite action on payment of their arrears based on the agreed period of three years.
“Whatever we are asking for now is very few, but by the grace of God, it will be completed.
“In the first instance, we are appreciating you. We did not buy your conscience; we did not give you money but you stood by your own oath to always come out with the truth.
“First, we wanted to be put on pension payroll, which was our normal right and that has been granted.”
He said, “Secondly, there is what is called 10 per cent compensation for premature retirement; we asked for it and it has been given to us.’’
According to him, what is left now is the arrears, after the completion of the five years guaranteed pension till the date the pension was approved.
“Management has approved it in principle but we are waiting for the implementation, which we know will be done soon.
“Part of the arrears starting from January last year till June last year has been in implementation since December which will terminate in May this year.
“The arrears before the approval which they have also agreed to spread over three years period is what we are waiting for now.
“So, before the expiration of the six months arrears, we also urge the management to speed up action and start the payment of the outstanding arrears which have been approved, ‘’ Binitie said.
Mr Austin Adarighofua, a former member of the Senior Staff Association of the NPA, said the Liberation Day was being celebrated to mark their freedom from a pitiful condition to what they now rightly enjoyed.
“We are celebrating the day because we are now enjoying what we were supposed to be enjoying; that which is due to us and we will continue to enjoy it, God saving our lives, ‘’he said.
