Pensioners Threaten To Sue S/W Governors

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), South West zonal Council, has on Monday declared to file a case at the competent court of law against  governors in the region over non-compliance with constitutional provision on pension increment.

The pensioners conveyed the intent in a statement signed by its Chairman, Waidi Oloyede and Secretary, Sunday Akin and made available to journalists in Ibadan the Capital City of Oyo State .

The union announced that it would take the south west governors to court by November 30,2021 if the pension increases of 33.4 per cent and consequential adjustment of pension 2019 are not addressed.

It explained that  section 210 (3) and 173 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 ( as amended) stated that pension should be increased at any time salaries and wages of workers are increased or every 5 years whichever comes first.

The union had written letters to the governors in the region on the decision of its meeting held on September 16 to take the governors to court if they failed to implement the pension increments.

The embattled pensioners observed that these provisions of the constitution have always been held in breach by governors in Nigeria,according to the statement.

“This  has led to inappropriate pension payment with some pensions earning as little as N330 per month in some states even here in the south west.This infraction has resulted in poverty, debilitating diseases and even deaths among scores of our pensioners,” the union said.

The union said that only Lagos and Ondo State governments in the south west region had implemented the 33.4 per cent pension increase of 2010, while Oyo,Osun,Ekiti and Ogun States had not.

The union said that there was another wages increase of N18,000 to N30,000 in 2019 with its consequential adjustment to the salaries and wages of workers that was brought to the notice of the governors.

It added:”Up to this moment no action or word has come from the governors indicating that they want to implement the increase.For the governors in Oyo, Ekiti, Osun, and Ogun states that have not implemented the 33.4 per cent pension increase of 2010 , it is appropriate that this be done before the implementation of consequential adjustment of pension 2019 in order not to short-change the pensioners”.