NUP Akwa Ibom: Is Rest still sweet after Labour?
-As Pensioners take Umo Eno, Udom Emmanuel to the cleaner
-Bemoan Governor Umo Eno’s “unfriendly approach to pensioners’ problems”.
-‘Pensioners in Akwa Ibom State still receive N800, N1200 as monthly pension’
By Moses Tom
By March 2024, Offong Edet Willie Okituneng, the Clan Head of Uquong, will clock 91 years.
As one of the oldest retired civil servants in NUP Akwa Ibom State, Offong Edet Willie Okituneng has spent the last 33 years chanting the slogan, Rest is Sweet after Labour.
It has always been his desire to see an improved welfare and living conditions for retired civil servants in the state before he joins his ancestors.
But his more than three decades experience as a pensioner has proven one ugly fact; government at all levels lacks genuine interest in the plights of the pensioners.
Offong Edet Willie Okituneng’s disposition was the feeling of delegates at the 2023 End of Year Get-together of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Akwa Ibom State Council,
Participants of the occasion held at the Union Secretariat, 10 Uko Eshiet Lane, Uyo, last Friday, were however unanimous that the slogan, Rest is Sweet after Labour, could become a reality in Akwa Ibom State if Governor Umo Eno extends his much talked-about friendly and humane approach in governance to retired civil servants in the state
Setting the tone for the occasion, Chairman, NUP Akwa Ibom State Council, Obong Ekpenyong Ekpo, commended Governor Umo Eno for his efforts in tackling the problem of gratuity in the state which he noted “would have been done on retirement”, bemoaning the governor’s “unfriendly approach to pensioners’ problems”.
Obong Ekpo whose address was read by the Assistant Secretary of NUP, Akwa Ibom State Council, Lady Dorathy Ukpong, however, appealed to the governor to extend the gesture beyond retired primary school teachers.
“The unfriendly approach to pensioners’ problems can be seen in the repeated announcement of payment of gratuity retired primary school teachers for the past one decade.
“The questions following the action are: Are retired primary school teachers the only retirees in the state? Is the purchasing power now the same as it was one decade ago? To what extent do they benefit from the current payment financially? What happens to the many Federal Government Circulars on pensioners’ welfare willfully suppressed in the state as against what happens in other South-South states?
“We are treated as outcasts and sinners for the sake of being granted long life by God. The palliative in the state is not extended to pensioners as against a very large quantity of rice given to pensioners by the Government of Cross River State.
“The current 13th month salary payment to Civil Servants in the state does not include the sinful group called pensioners,” the NUP Akwa Ibom chairman decried.
He expressed the fear that Governor Umo Eno may take after his predecessor, former governor Udom Emmanuel, whom he said granted one audience to pensioners in his entire two term tenure where he made caricature of pensioners by claiming to be a next of kin of a deceased pensioner.
“After eight years of the last administration in the state, the Union was granted only one occasion to meet the governor who agreed with the Union on certain points benefit pensioners. Sadly, this agreement has not been implemented despite pressure by the Union.
“The Federal Constitution directs that pension should be reviewed every five years or whenever increase is given in the country. Sadly, this directive has not been carried out in Akwa Ibom state for more than 20 years now. As a result, some pensioners in Akwa Ibom State still receive N800, N1200 as monthly pension allowance in a country where N30000 is the minimum wage.
“Since the Constitution says whatever is given to workers should be equally given to pensioners, we the Pensioners deserve minimum wage in lie of N30000 minimum wage. Failing is cruelty to pensioners and it is enormous and unbearable,” he posited.
Obong Ekpo also urged Governor Umo Eno to extend the 13th month salary paid to civil servants in the state to Pensioners and harmonise pension scheme to alleviate the suffering of pensioners.
The Secretary of the Union, Obong Cosmas Essien, also appealed to Governor Umo Eno to grant Pensioners in the state N25000 monthly minimum pension, implement Federal Government Circular on Consequential Adjustment and establish pension commissions, boards and bureaus to tackle issues confronting Pensioners in the state.
“The Union is pleased to remind His Excellency that good children, among whom he is, care more for their Elderly Parents. As he a caring son let him try to allow pensioners benefit from his UmoEnomba which at least can buy Panadol for the Aged
The Secretary, Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Elder Sam Umoh, commended the leadership of NUP Akwa Ibom State Council for their boldness, adding they are already in court to challenge the state government on the issue of harmonisation of pension scheme and payment.
He called on members of NUP Akwa Ibom State to join the fight.
The Legal Adviser of the Union, Barr. Ekpa B. Ekpa, challenged pensioners in Akwa Ibom State to sustain the struggle for a better welfare and packages for retired civil servants.
The highpoint of the occasion was a Solemn Assembly where the Pensioners thanked God for seeing them through the stormy nature of 2023.
Intercessory prayers were also offered for Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Government, Pensioners and the release of Pensioners benefits.
In a message, Bishop Donatus Umoh, urged Pensioners to prepare a room in their hearts for God and his son, Jesus Christ in appreciation for their goodness and mercies towards them.
