NPA Retirees Send SOS To Jonathan

The Retired workers of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) 2006/7 has sent a save our soul (SOS) message to President Goodluck Jonathan, asking him to please look into their plight and direct the new management to include them into normal pension scheme as it is in the content of the Federal Ministry of Finance circular.

The retirees numbering about 5,000 expressed their ill-feelings during a protest it held at NPA Sports Ground at Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos on Friday. During the protest, the chairman of the retirees, Mr F. Farguah, disclosed to newsmen how the then management deceived and cajoled them into filling a form which bore two options, 5 years pension buyout or to be placed on pension immediately. Even though the options were met, it was neither with additional severeance package nor compensation for premature retirement.

However, the budget office in the Federal Ministry of Finance through its circular dated 3 August, 2009 (appendix 11 & 111) directed that every ministry and parastatal where downsizing was executed between 2006 and 2007 should return the names of their pensionable workers to normal pension payroll at the expiration of their one year bulk severance pay.

“Mr President Sir, NPA management is still arguing that the circular under reference is not binding on it whereas the directive had been implemented in all affected organisations,” the press statement stated.