Pensioners in the South West yesterday rejected the N70,000 minimum wage newly signed into law by President Bola Tinubu following a recent increase in the price of premium motor spirit also known as petrol.
The pensioners, under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Southwest Zone, in a communique at the end of their zonal meeting held in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, called on labour to renew demand for N250,000 minimum wage because of the current economic realities.
NUP Southwest Publicity Secretary, Dr Olusegun Abatan, who read the communique to journalists, also demanded that implementation of local government autonomy should not disrupt the payment of pensions of council pensioners/retired primary school teachers and salaries of local government workers/primary school teachers.
Speaking on the minimum wage, Abatan said, “We found out that before the N70,000 was even implemented, the Federal Government has gone ahead to further increase the price of petrol, and we concluded that the two labour centres that went into that negotiation went there blindfolded and naïve.
“The Federal Government took advantage of the naivety and inexperience of Comrade Joe Ajaero, and Festus Usifo, by tricking them into accepting N70,000 and that it would not increase fuel price, but no sooner they agreed to kowtow what was said about N70,000, the Federal Government went ahead to increase fuel price.
“To that extent, the Southwest is rejecting the N70,000 minimum wage that Labour has negotiated and advised that Labour should go back to the negotiating table and insist on the N250,000 they initially wanted.
“Before you know it, the N2,000 that the Federal Government said it was going to increase the fuel price to will eventually emerge. Labour should go back. The value of the N70,000 is just about 60 litres of fuel.
“Labour should go back to negotiate N250,000 minimum wage. They have our backing on whatever is involved even strike to achieve a realistic minimum wage,” the pensioners said.
They praised the governors in the zone for improvement in their attitudes toward senior citizens through various efforts on pensions and gratuities in the different states.
However, Abatan who said that only Ondo State had effected 33 per cent pension increase for its pensioners, appealed, “We want our state governments in the remaining Southwest states to implement 33 per cent pension increase and consequential adjustment which was done for workers in the year 2019.
“If these 33 per cent increases and consequential adjustments are not implemented before the new minimum pension or minimum wage, all pensioners in the country would be shortchanged. So, we appeal to our governors to do the needful”.
Abatan, who said that the pensioners supported local government autonomy, however, said, “The arrangement being put up at the federal and state levels should not tamper with payments of the pensions of retired primary school teachers and pensioners at the local government level.
“The salaries of teachers should also go on. The salaries of workers at the local governments should also go on. The allowances of the chiefs and obas should also be taken care of as first-line charges,” the communique stated.
The pensioners called on the government at the federal and state levels to be proactive to ensure there would be no crisis from the wholesome implementation of the local government autonomy by ensuring there was no return to the era of zero allocation to the councils after the deduction of salaries and pensions.

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has revealed that against orchestrated sabotage by disgruntled elements to frustrate the fight initiated by his administration to tackle illegal bunkering in the State, formidable successes have been recorded, undoubtedly.
The Governor expressed delight that the success will further be sustained, given the commendable interest shown by the Presidency that has constituted the Niger Delta Monitoring Team, and tasked with the mandate to curb oil theft and illegal refining of crude oil in the entire region.
Governor Fubara spoke when he received the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led a delegation of the Joint Federal Government Team on Security of National Assets on courtesy visit to Government House in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
The Governor said those saboteurs are not only attempting to disrupt the course of delivery of critical projects and good governance but extended it to create disaffection within the thriving business climate because they do not want to see anything good reckoned with his administration.
But Governor Fubara stated that he is not deterred by those acts because there is a stronger determination to rewrite the story and ensure that Rivers people get the best while the national economy does not suffer by what happens in the State.
Governor Fubara said: “You know what they say, everything might not be God’s wish, but everything worketh for God’s desire.
“We are faced with a situation where the little that we are doing here are being sabotaged by some persons who do not want to see any good in what we are doing.
“This is not just in the aspect of governance, but also in the aspect of economic activities of this country. And, one way or the other, this particular moment has created an opportunity for us to rewrite those stories.”
Governor Fubara emphasised: “I can say here boldly that before this time, we’ve had a very wonderful working relationship with the Service Commanders here. And in Rivers State, we have done so much in the aspect of combating illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation.
“And, you can imagine what has just happened now. When the Federal Government is now being part of it, through the different headquarters of the (military) service arm, to complement what we are doing. I can assure you that it is going to be a total success.”
Governor Fubara stated his confidence in the calibre of members of the Team and how professional the Chief of Defence Staff has conducted their operations.
The Governor also explained that he did not appoint Henry Wordu into the team merely because he knows him, but because of his interest to defend the State and Nigeria.
He said: “It is very important, some persons may chose people because they are their relations; they are their friends, no. We need to look at people who can represent us well. He is a man who has shown so much concern, interest in the affairs of our State. So, I have no doubt that he will bring honour to us.”
The Governor also explained the drastic decision that has been taken to curb incidences of piracy at some sea routes in the State.
Governor Fubara also said: “You mentioned something, the issue of sea pirates. That is even one of the problems I am having today.
“Because of what we are doing through the Navy and the Air Force, which are also supporting us, they’ve all entered into the waterways now.
“The waterways around Bonny Local Government Area are the tracks they operate now; kidnapping of innocent people who are coming from Bonny Island to Port Harcourt or some of them on their way from Port Harcourt to Bonny Island.
“As we are talking now, we have already started doing something. Myself and the Office of the Secretary of the State Government, have already directed them to acquire six gun boats, so we can handover some of them to the Navy, so that they can cover some areas of interest.”
Governor Fubara restated his resolve to ensure that everything goes on well by providing the needed State Government’s support that will contribute to increasing crude oil production.
He added: “I can assure you that we will give all the necessary support to the committee to make sure that they succeed.
“Let me, on behalf of the Government and people of Rivers State, assure the Chief of Defence Staff that our collaboration in supporting the course of the Federal Government to ensure that (crude oil) production line increases by next year is a task that must be done, and Rivers State will be part of it to make it succeed,” he added.
In his speech, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said his visit is two-fold: first, is to assess the level of implementation of their directives towards achieving the mandate of Mr President in securing the oil producing areas, ensure that crude oil production increases.
The second reason, he said, is to inaugurate the two committees: the Defense Joint Monitoring Team and the Defense Joint Intelligence Infusion Centre.
General Musa explained: “Now, why we have these two is to enhance the work we already have been doing on ground. We have observed over time that there are gaps in the activities ongoing, and for us to be able to achieve the mandate of the Commander-in-Chief and President of Nigeria, we have to do things differently.
“And firstly, what we did was that with the Operation Delta Safe (ODS), we made sure that all the security forces and other agencies are working together under the Joint Task Force.
“They have their company Commanders and personnel, and whatever that is being done, we are doing it together in unison. We understand that synergy is very crucial to our success, and that is the first thing that we did.
“And secondly, the Monitoring Team and the Infusion Centre. The Monitoring Team is to also go round and see where they are gaps to be able to direct the operations so that they can be able to see that things are covered.”
General Musa added the Infusion Centre is task to also harmonize all the intelligence agencies together, gather all the information, whether it deals with oil production or other acts of criminality that will help in taking direct action to ensure that there is peace.
The Chief of Defence Staff also expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for creating an enabling environment with his sterling leadership style.
He noted that there is zero rancor which has engendered peace and security as seen in Rivers State.
He said, “We want to say a very big thank you, and to continue to show and assure you that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are fully with you to ensure that Rivers State, indeed, is peaceful and progressive. We want to also appreciate you for the support directly to the members of the Armed Forces.”
He added that the peaceful atmosphere created by the government has enabled members of the Armed Forces in the State to perform their operations and other activities unhindered, and urged the Governor to continue to show leadership by sustaining peace and advancing the development of the State.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has affirmed its commitment to end open defecation in Nigeria.
Jane Bevan, Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), UNICEF, stated this at a two-day media dialogue themed “Ending Open Defecation in Nigeria and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)” in Lagos.
Bevan emphasised that collaboration from all sectors was crucial in achieving this goal.
“We are not just working toward an open defecation-free Nigeria; we are building a sustainable future where improved sanitation drives health, economic growth and environmental resilience.
“We need the government, partners and the private sector to join us in making Nigeria open defecation-free.
“We also need the media to assist us in sensitising the public to the dangers of open defecation.
“By leveraging the power of information, we can create a movement that not only raises awareness but also translates into tangible actions for ODF at the community level.
“We must keep this campaign on the front burner,” she said.
In her remarks, Mrs Chizoma Opara, a Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, expressed concern over the persistence of open defecation in the country.
Opara, who is also the National Coordinator of the Clean Nigeria Campaign, noted that the 2021 WASHNORM reports, revealed that more than 48 million Nigerians still engage in the practice.
“Open defecation is a sanitation and hygiene-related issue and a significant contributor to the spread of NTDs.
“Diseases like onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) are transmitted through contaminated soil and faeces, perpetuating a cycle of poverty, malnutrition and ill health.
“By addressing open defecation, we can significantly reduce the transmission of NTDs,” Opara said.
Aituaje Iruobe, popularly known as WAJE and a UNICEF Champion, expressed concern on the high rate of open defecation in Nigeria, reiterating her commitment to leading the campaign against the practice.
The Tide source reports that the event also featured a panel of discussion with stakeholders deliberated on strategies to eliminate open defecation and related issues.