BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Friday gave the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to constitute the Governing Board of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), according to the stipulation of the law.
NLC disclosed this In a communiqué issued after its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held in Abuja also demanded that Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) account for and return all diverted funds from NSITF, warned that failure to meet these demands would lead to industrial action nationwide.
The meeting, chaired by NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, demanded that PenCom submits to the NLC full status report of the funds within this same period.
The committee noted that the non-constitution of the governing board of PenCom is in contravention of the PenCom Act and other statutes.
CMC further said that “This unlawful vacuum has allowed government to solely superintend over the pension funds contributed by workers and employers, stripping away the statutory tripartite oversight and increasing the risk of mismanagement and political interference.
“The CWC reiterates that pension funds are deferred wages, not state revenue, and demands the immediate constitution of the Board in full compliance with the law.
On NISTF the committee expressed outrage at the ongoing assault on workers’ social protection rights through the Federal Government’s diversion of 40% of workers’ contributions to the national coffers as “revenue”, in flagrant violation of the statutes establishing the NSITF.
The CMC added that “is equally condemnable the new Administration’s false claim of ownership of the NLC National Headquarters, a property owned by Nigerian workers, resort to Cyber and media-bullying of the trade unions and leadership coupled with covert moves to amend the NSITF Act in a manner that would disenfranchise workers and give government full control over the funds. The CWC warns that these actions represent a direct attack on workers’ rights, hard-earned resources, and the principle of tripartite governance enshrined in international labour standards.
“The Congress affirms that the NSITF belongs to the Nigerian working class and will mobilise all legitimate means to ensure workers’ interests are protected.
On state of the nation CWC reviewed the deepening economic crisis marked by runaway inflation, joblessness, hunger, insecurity, and the collapse of public services, all aggravated by anti-people neoliberal policies.
The Congress warns that unless Nigeria adopts a people-centred development path anchored on public ownership of strategic sectors, living wages, industrial revival, and social protection, the majority of citizens will remain trapped in poverty while the ruling elite continues i
