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.
