Posted by Sade Williams
Nigeria’s pensioners, under the aegis of Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners’ Association of Nigeria (FEPPPAN), have asked President Muhammad Buhari to intervene in the implementation of their minimum wage/salary as signed to law in 2019.
A letter sighted by The Travelport and signed by the President general of the association, Dr. Temple C. Ubani JP Snr and General Secretary, Citizen Franklin O. Erinle, asked Buhari to prevail on the appropriate agency that is saddled with the implementation to consider the plight of the pensioners and implement it immediately.
The letter was copied to the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Minister of Labour & Employment, Attorney General of the Federation.
The Association also copied the National Salaries, Incomes & Wages Commission (NSIWC), Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD); Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as well as the Department of State Services (DSS)
While thanking the current administration for paying the pensioners promptly every month, the association noted, “We heard from the grapevine that the National Salaries, Incomes & Wages Commission (NSIWC) had several months ago submitted its Report/Recommendations to the Presidency for approval and subsequent implementation of the recommendations on the Minimum Wage/Salary as it relates to Federal pensioners. The Report has been going back and forth between the Presidency and Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), in the last couple of months.
“We plead with your Excellency to intervene and cause the appropriate organ/agency to do the needful on the matter. We have unflinching faith in your continued love and compassion for the welfare of pensioners nationwide.”
“We pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme and members of the Federal Parastatals & Private Sector Pensioners’ Association of Nigeria (FEPPPAN) write to acknowledge, with thanks, your administration’s care and love for pensioners nationwide through regular payment of our monthly pensions since 2015 when you took over the reins of power.
“However, we have looked forward to the implementation of the Minimum Wage/Salary as it relates to pension increase of pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme, with bated breath, to no avail. Needless to remind your Excellency that you graciously signed the Minimum Wage/Salary into law on 18th April, 2019 and this was implemented at the Federal Level in December 2019.
“Majority of pensioners of Federal Parastatals have persistently clamoured for a showdown through public protests/demonstrations but the leadership of our Association has so far been able to stem the tide of a nationwide protest lest, detractors whose stock in trade is always to run down your government, will latch on this to unjustifiably criticize your government notwithstanding the fact that pensioners nationwide never had it so good before the advent of your administration”, it said.
