Olusegun Adeyemo
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Southwest zone, has condemned the Ekiti State Government for the registration of a new body, the Pensioners Association of Nigeria (PAN), branding the move as illegal, unconstitutional, and a deliberate attempt to sow division among retired civil servants.
Speaking during the union’s quarterly meeting held in Akure, Ondo State, the NUP’s Southwest Public Relations Officer, Comrade Olusegun Abatan, described PAN’s registration as a violation of the Trade Union Act. He alleged that the Ekiti government was behind the creation of the association and had begun diverting union dues to the new body.
“It saddens us that the Ekiti State Government has registered an illegal association called the Pensioners Association of Nigeria, PAN. There is no other state in Nigeria where such an association exists, and it is not backed by any law,” Abatan said.
He further disclosed that check-off dues legally belonging to NUP and deducted from retirees’ monthly stipends were being withheld and allegedly redirected to PAN.
“Check-off dues are part of Ekiti State’s statutory allocations and must be remitted to the legitimate union. PAN’s existence has no legal foundation under the Trade Union Act,” he stated.
Comrade Abatan, who also serves as Secretary of the Oyo State chapter of NUP, called on Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji to reverse PAN’s registration and reaffirm the Nigeria Union of Pensioners as the only legally recognised union for retired workers across the country.
“The Nigeria Union of Pensioners is the only union permitted by law to cater for the welfare of pensioners nationwide. Any other association is a mere aberration and unacceptable,” he said.
The controversy follows the formation of PAN by a breakaway faction led by former Ekiti NUP chairman, Comrade Joel Akinola, a move NUP leaders described as divisive and dead on arrival.
Abatan also criticised the slow pace of pension and gratuity payments in both Ekiti and Ondo states. He lamented that in Ondo, local government retirees who left service in 2013 were only now receiving gratuity payments, while state pensioners who retired in 2016 had just begun receiving theirs.
“This is not fair to those who served meritoriously. Many of them are battling with serious health issues and deserve to be paid promptly,” he said.
He appealed to Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to urgently address the backlog of gratuities and pensions and ensure that payments are made before the end of the month.
Abatan also took a swipe at Governor Oyebanji of Ekiti State for what he described as poor handling of pensioners’ welfare in the state. He noted that the state had been allocating a meagre and irregular sum of N100 million monthly towards pensioners’ gratuities.
“It is saddening that the Ekiti State governor has not been forthcoming in settling pension arrears. What is being paid is grossly inadequate and inconsistent,” he said.
In contrast, Abatan praised Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde for his consistent support to retirees, highlighting that over N2 billion is paid monthly to pensioners in the state to offset gratuity arrears and other entitlements.
“As far as the Southwest is concerned, Governor Makinde remains the star governor in the hearts of pensioners for his unwavering commitment to their welfare,” he said.
The NUP leadership vowed to resist any attempt to undermine the union and urged the federal government to intervene before the matter escalates.