The management of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Port Harcourt, has assured protesting retired staff of the authority in 1991, that their demands of payment of pension and gratuity as well as other benefits would be communicated to the headquarters for immediate implementation.

The ports manager, Rivers Ports Complex, Mr Lawrence Alabi, who gave the assurance during a meeting with the executive of the demonstrating retired workers led by its chairman, Mr Jonathan Okonkwo, in his office on Monday resolved that the issues of non-payment of gratuity, pension and redundancy allowances met for the retirees of 1991 is appreciated, and promised that their plight would be forwarded to the authorities concern for further action, stressing that they would also put in cone efforts to ensure quick dispensation.

Mr Okonkwo said the management at the headquarters had already met on the issue, while December 29, 2011 had been fixed to finalised the matter.

The Chief Port Public Affairs Manager, Rivers Ports Complex, Port Harcourt, Mrs Barbara Ejemeh Nche-Achukwu, who dropped this into journalists in Port Harcourt said the management would not relent in its efforts to reach amicable solution.

It will be recalled that 1991 retired NPA workers on Monday carried out a peaceful demonstration, which almost paralysed ports activities in Area One, Port Harcourt.

The retirees, numbering over 300 carried placards which reads thus: “Fellow Nigerian, is NPA above the law? by refusing Supreme Court order as many of them have died”, “NPA Legal Adviser Osipiten should be sacked”, “NPA pay us our money”,  “NPA, you have suffered and killed is for over 20 years since June 1991 till now,” “come rain, come sun, pay us” among others.

Speaking with The Tide maritime correspondent during the protest, the chairman of NPA Retrenched Staff 1991, Comrade Jonathan Okonkwo, said the body had written so many letter to the management for a dialogue, but to no avail, even that of Supreme Court judgement in 2007 which was in their favour, before they went for verification exercise and opening of accounts.

Comrade Okonkwo said even as order from the Attorney  General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke was not complied, hence the peaceful demonstration, stressing that if at the end no tangible result was achieved from the management, they would still embark on such protest.

Some of the protesting retirees, Mrs Grace Ezekiah, Comrade Tam Alaboh and Alhaji Isa Owoyemi appealed to the management of NPA to pay them their entitlements as the non-payment had affected their family live, their childred could not go to  school and some stand the risk of being divorced while most have died due to frustration.

Collins Barasimeye