Cross River Workers, Gov't set for show down over contributory pension scheme bill

By Victor Udu

There are strong indications that Cross River workers and state government are set for a show down following passage of Contributory Pension Scheme for public service employees in state.

Governor Bassey Otu on assumption of office had series of meetings with labour leaders on how to surmount the pension and gratuity owed workers which have accumulated into several billions on Naira.

At the meeting, Otu had mooted the idea of resorting to PENCOM and PFA to as a way of solving the intractable problems associated with workers benefits after retirement and went ahead to organize a sensitisation meeting with labour leaders and workers on the need to join the scheme.

The Governor went ahead also to invite the President of NLC, Joe Ajero, the state to give a pep talk on the benefits of PENCOM.

But sources close the meetings hinted The Beagle News that workers vehemently opposed to the idea of migrating Cross River state public workers to PENCOM for obvious lapses associated with administrators.

The labour leaders on October 25, 2023 unanimously rejected the proposed contributory pension scheme pending proper discussions with relevant organs, adding that they relied on the provisions of section 5(2) of the labour Act. Cap L1, laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 which seeks full consent of the Cross River state workers before implementing the scheme.

Even the sensitisation meeting schedule for October 25  at Transcorp Hotels Calabar between workers and the state government could not hold as workers turned the venue into a rally ground with the chants of "no-pencom-no-pencom" renting the air.

Government Dares Workers, Came With Up PENCOM Bill

But determined to go on with the scheme, the Governor was said to have allegedly pressured the legislature and its leadership into coming up with a bill to legalise the programme for its effective take off.

And in what seems like bowing to pressure, the Contributory Pension Scheme Bill 2023, which was introduced by Rt. Hon. Davies Etta, the member representing Abi state constituency and Deputy Majority Leader of the House, was passed into law by the House of Assembly on Thursday, November 2, 2023.

The bill, which aims at establishing a contributory pension scheme for public service employees in Cross River State was co-sponsored by nine other lawmakers, was initially presented on Tuesday, July 4, 202, and was read for the second time on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.
In a statement by the chief press secretary to the Speaker, Matthew Okache, “the legislation is designed significantly to enhance the welfare and living standards of pensioners across the state. It reflects the government's commitment to providing financial security and a better quality of life for those who have devoted their careers to public service. The bill represents a crucial step forward in ensuring that the retirements of public service employees in Cross River State are secure and dignified. 
“The passage of the Contributory Pension Scheme Bill 2023 has been met with widespread acclaim and is viewed as a major stride towards achieving greater social and financial stability for retirees and public service workers in Cross River state,”

Labour Threatens Industrial Action Over Bill

Not relenting in the struggle to liberate workers from being forcefully moved into PENCOM and PFA shortly after Assembly passed the bill, the Organised Labour in Cross River State comprising the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigeria Labour Congress NLC), advised Governor Out not to assent to Contributory Pension Scheme Bill threatening industrial action untill labour is engaged on it.

The organised labour, which also includes the State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (SJPSNC), carpeted the Cross River State House of Assembly for hurriedly passing the Pension Bill into law even when the House was on recess with its parliamentary staff on strike.

In a communique dated November 21, 2023, jointly signed by the State NLC chairman, Comrade Gregory Olayi, and state secretary, Comr. Odong Bassey Eke, TUC state chairman/secretary JNC, Comrade Monday Ogbodum, TUC secretary, Comr. Ken Bassey, JNC chairman, Comr. Akan Raymond Afu, urged Governor Otu to desist forthwith from assenting to the Bill.

“It is our belief that His Excellency will do the needful by engaging with Labour and stakeholders on this issue before any action is further taken on the Bill to avoid industrial crises.

“The labour has observed with dismay the initial friendly disposition of His Excellency, the governor towards labour being replaced by one of unfriendliness, imposition, unconstructive due to the work of fifth columnists who seek to benefit from protracted labour crises.

“Government should not impose improper, unwelcomed and unacceptable policies on Cross River State, if truly the governor’s mantra is peoples’ first.

Workers Too Prepare For Show Down With Government 
However, workers across the state are piqued with the passage of the Bill, describing it as an attempt by the executive and legislature to muscle them into Contributory Pension Scheme when in their various meetings with the Governor they had kicked against it vehemently, saying the scheme is anti-workers’ welfare based on experience of those who are into the programme. 

A top director in one of the ministry, who don’t want his name mentioned, said: “if the scheme is good, why did the military pull out of it, even the Police is kicking because it fraught with fraud. Cross River workers are not comfortable with it and we would fight it with the last drop of our blood. Let us remain where we are where we can collect our pension when we retire take care of ourselves.”