NTA retirees protest 15 months pension arrears

Hundreds of retired workers of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) yesterday in Abeokuta held a peaceful protest over failure of government to pay their 15 months’ pension arrears and gratuities.
The protest under the banner of the Nigerian Television Authority Contributory Pensioners’ Association (NTACOPMAN) was led by the interim National President of the group, Kayode Da-Silva.
They marched to the Iwe Iroyin Press Centre in the Ogun state capital, with placards with inscriptions asking government to settle the outdtanding arrears of pensions.
Speaking with journalists at the centre, Mr Da-Silva said the condition of the retirees was lamentable, saying: “It is often said that rest is sweet after labour, but for the Nigerian workers, the reverse is the case.
To our senior citizens, rest is sweat after labour.” They demanded the federal government base pension and gratuity on first-line-charge, rather than on budgetary allocation.
“After all, verification exercises take place one year before pensioners go on retirement.
This period is long enough for proper and effective planning.
Another point of concern to us as contributory pensioners of the federal government is the nonpayment of 33 per cent and 15 per cent to us,” Da-Silva said.
“The issue has been lingering for over four years now.
When the federal government released N54.1 billion to Pencom a couple of months ago, the impression given was that the released fund was specifically for payment of the salary arrears of 33 per cent and 15 per cent.” He said the pensioners heaved a sigh of relief at the news, “but the joy was short-lived as the money released was used by Pencom in paying outstanding gratuity and monthly pension arrears of pensioners who had not received a dime after retirement.

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