No plans to protest over N25,000 wage award – Pensioners

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, has denounced reports making the rounds that pensioners want to protest over non-payment of the N25,000 wage award to them.

This is contained in a statement jointly issued in Abuja on Friday by Mr Godwin Abumisi, NUP President, and Mr Actor Zal, the General Secretary.

Recall that Mr Sunday Omezi, Chairman, Federal Civil Service Pensioners Branch, an affiliate of the NUP, had, during a news conference, threatened that the pensioners would embark on protest over non-payment of the wage award.

DAILY POST recalls that the Federal Government had announced N35,000 wage award for public service workers, while pensioners would receive N25,000 as palliatives due to removal of fuel subsidy until a new minimum wage is worked out.

They dissociated the national body of NUP from the said threat to protest.

“The pensioners all over the country are eagerly waiting for the Federal Government to fulfil its promise in this direction to ameliorate their suffering.

“As senior citizens we would rather engage the government in constructive dialogue rather than demonstration.

“We hereby call on the relevant security agencies to rise up to their responsibilities by putting behind the bars anyone that threatens the existence of the fragile peace that has eluded our country, Nigeria,” the NUP officials said.

According to them, NUP has only one constitutionally recognised national president in the person of Mr Godwin Abumisi, who is hale and hearty, going about his normal trade union business.

They, therefore, urged pensioners across the country to remain calm and law abiding.