The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has described some retired workers who protested against the re-appointment of the Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Chioma Ejikeme, as “noisemakers”.
The NUP specifically said the pensioners protesting her reappointment are being used and sponsored by arch-enemies of the entire Nigerian pensioners considering the innovative ideas she introduced such as “I Am Alive” to revolutionise pension administration and management for good.
President of NUP, Godwin Abumisi, who stated this at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, explained that the PTAD boss’ empathetic dispositions towards pensioners and quick reactions to their issues had greatly helped the senior citizens to get their owed entitlements.
Abumisi added that her resolve to ensuring that humongous pension arrears and entitlements owed to different pensioners’ groups are cleared, saying not reappointing her would be to detrimental for all the pensioners that are currently enjoying their entitlements.
“I wish to state that in the NUP, there exists no objection to her appointment. Any talk of protests against her reappointment exists in the hollow minds of persons obviously sponsored by arch enemies of the Nigerian pensioner.
“I hereby call on all members of the NUP to rally around Dr Ejikeme in order to ensure she continues the good works of restoring the dignity of the Nigerian pensioner,” Abumisi told newsmen during the briefing.
In the same vein, the General Secretary of the Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria (FEPPPAN), Franklin Enrile, said his members felt disappointed that any pensioner would think of kicking against Ejikeme’s reappointment for any reason.
He stressed that the feat she achieved in the administration of pension management in the country in recent past that eases the stress and undignified treatment pensioners went through in the past is such that no right thinking person will wish contrary to her reappointment.
