Pensioners want Buhari’s action over parallel union

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to intervene in the ongoing leadership crisis at the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) electricity sector branch.

The pensioners during a protest at the ministry of Labour and Employment called on the President to stop the Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige from registering a parallel union of pensioner.

The protesters said they have been informed that the minister had concluded plans to register Chief Temple Ubani’s Electricity Sector Retirees Welfare Association (ESREWA) to run parallel with the Nigeria Union of Pensioners.

Addressing journalists during the protest, chairman of the NUP electricity sector branch, Alhaji Idi Bawa cautioned Dr Ngige “To desist from any act or acts that will not only bring his office to disrepute but also serve as a bad precedence in the annals of trade unionism.”

Bawa said in defiance of disciplinary action taken against him in accordance with the regulations of the constitution, Chief Ubani and others voluntarily pulled out of the union and formed another association to run parallel with the union.

He said, “Such an act if allowed is tantamount to illegality and against the rule of law. In all circumstances, rule of law must prevail in accordance with the mantra of the present government.

“We are also reliably informed that the deductions of check-off dues was stopped by PTAD in contravention of Trade Unions Act section 17a&b, CAPT 17 of the 2004 at the intervention of the Minister.”