The protest organized by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Kano State chapter on Tuesday over non-payment of N36.9b accumulated pension arrears and retirement benefits, almost end up in a disaster, as one of the pensioners collapsed
Penpushing reports that the protest was organized by Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), and number of them varying various anti-government placards
The protesters commenced their march from the Emir’s palace to the Government House, and seen carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Pay us our pension arrears”, “Resume compliance to pension laws”, “Monthly pension deductions must be stopped and monthly pension is non-taxable by law, why deduct from it?”
Penpushing further reports that, Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC0, who was there in solidarity with the protesting pensioners, said the state owes 32,600 pensioners accumulated N36.9 billion unpaid arrears.
The labour boss explained that as of June 2022, 18,111 pensioners have not been paid their entitlements, noting that this, has resulted in the deaths of many while others have taken ill with no money to settle their hospital bills.
Penpushing also reports that, he pointed out that government agencies and parastatals have not been paying the statutory 17 per cent deductions from workers’ salaries and the value of the deduction has reached over N60 billion.
The chairman, however, appealed to government , in ensuring that henceforth stop the illegal deductions of pensioners’ money, which he noted contravenes the 6 Pension Law, which prohibits deductions of pensioners’ funds and has mandated agencies and parastatals to pay as at when due.
“We also hope that Government would set aside special funds to commence the immediate payment of the unsettled N36.9 billion funds, and also ensure that the unwarranted cut in their money, immediately stops.
“Failure to do this might result in the pensioners taking the last option, which is – a legal action, but we know and believe that Governor Ganduje has his people in his heart as can be seen in the monthly payment of pension allowances and salaries”.
Penpushing reports that, the Head of Service, Usman Bala, who addressed the protesting pensioners, argued that the pension arrears were inherited from the last two governments in the state, explaining that despite that, government now pays monthly pension.
“But despite all these negative tendencies, our government now is paying monthly Pension allowances and also tried in paying some gratuity, but one should know that the nation is facing a serious cash crunch and Kano is not exempted,” he said.
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