Uduaghan reacts to Pensioners protest

Posted by admin | 9 years ago | 2,373 times



Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan has disclosed that the State Government pays out N1.2billion to Pensioners every month. This he said was contrary to the protests of an Association of Pensioners last week in the state capital.

The Governor revealed this when he met with retired civil servants in Asaba, the Delta State capital, following their protest on Wednesday last week, preventing entry into the State Assembly complex. He stated that his administration has spent N18bn since the inception of the Contributory Scheme in 2007.

He cautioned the retirees about politicising the matter.  Uduaghan assured them that nobody or party can blackmail him into abandoning retired civil servants of the state as his late parents were Retirees and he knows what they went through.

The Governor reiterated the state's commitment, explaining that it has made a counterpart funding of over N18bn while the contribution from salaries is N13.7bn. "The money is with the PFAs (Pension Fund Administrators)" he added.

He described the last week's protest and address by the Contributory Retirees of Delta State as unfair and mischievous. "It's regrettable that somebody is using them to misinform the public. They are politicising pension matters and it's quite unfortunate".

While urging PFAs to endeavour to meet the needs of Pensioners, Uduaghan explained that it has been agreed that resolutions on wages by the Federal government are not binding on States unless they were part of the negotiations. "If the FG does not involve States in negotiations, the circulars would not be binding on the states but rather open windows for them to negotiate with their own workers".

Meanwhile the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) Delta State chapter, Ogbueshi Robert Chukwunyem has apologised to the Governor over the actions of the Contributory Retirees Association (CRA). While thanking him for ensuring prompt payment of pensions, he assured that the NUP is already making efforts to integrate members of the CRA.

A group of Pensioners under the aegis of Contributory Retirees Association, had protested in Asaba last week, blocking the entrance of the Delta State House of Assembly complex. They prevented the staff from going in or out of the premises and accused the Governor of insensitivity to their case.


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