Pensioners accuse Ngige of promoting factionlization of union

The Caretaker Committee of Electricity Sector of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has accused the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige of promoting the registration of a new pensioner’s association named Electricity Sector Retirees Welfare Association  (ESREWA).

The Chairman of Caretaker Committee, Abel Eikhor, who said this in Abuja said the Minister does not have the powers to unilaterally or influence the registration of a new union without following the laid down procedures as enshrined in the Labour Act.

According to Article 3 (2) of the Trade Union Act: “No combination of workers or employees shall be registered as a Trade Union save with the approval of the Minister on his been satisfied that it is to register the union either by regrouping existing Trade Unions, registering a new Trade Union or otherwise however, but no Trade Union shall be registered to represent workers or employees in a place where there already exists Trade Union”, he stated, “We are reliably informed that the Hon. Minister is considering registering the Association (ESREWA) trying to use Section 3(2) of the Trade Union Act to do so.”

ikhor said the caretaker committee would head to the court to challenge any attempt by splinter group to register as a trade union without following the rule of law.

His explanation: “I did mention the antics of the former president of the NUP (ES) using ethnicity by going through the back door trying to register his newly formed association, which he named ‘Electricity Sector Retirees welfare Association (ESREWA) with the connivance of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige.

“I also remember that in compliance with the ethics of your profession, you reached out to the Minister for balanced reporting. He denied the allegation of aiding and abetting and claimed he does not know Chief Temple Ubani. In the course of the interview, however, he admitted the papers were submitted to his office.”

“We have it on good authority that for the Minister to pacify his tribe man having already lost out in the power play going on in the Electricity Sector, the Minister is banking on this section to claim he wants to regroup the Nigeria Union of Pensioners by creating the Electricity Sector out of it.

“We the Electricity Sector pensioners want to make a bold statement here today to the Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige to stay clear of union politics.  We have not approached him for any membership registration and of course, there is even no need for such as NUP is already adequately catering for the interest of the Electricity Sector pensioners. 

“We are by law affiliate member of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, and we have no reason to seek for a registration of our own.  Our plea therefore is for the Hon. Minister to please leave us alone and let us enjoy peace in our Union.”