NPA Retirees Issue Shutdown Threat over 16-year Pension Arrears

NPA Retirees Issue Shutdown Threat over 16-year Pension Arrears

Retired workers of the Nigerian Ports Authority have warned of a possible nationwide protest that could disrupt port operations if long-standing pension grievances are not addressed.

The pensioners, under the umbrella of the Nigerian Ports Authority Pensioners Welfare Association, said they may commence industrial action within seven days unless authorities intervene to resolve the dispute over unpaid entitlements spanning more than a decade.

Speaking on behalf of the group, its president, Charles Ayo Binitie, said the decision followed years of failed appeals to management and government agencies.

He accused the authority of neglecting statutory provisions that mandate periodic pension reviews, noting that retirees have not benefited from the constitutionally backed five-year increment since 2008.

“It is sad and regrettable that amid the current economic hardship, many of our members can barely survive,” Binitie said, adding that a significant number of pensioners earn between N30,000 and N50,000 monthly.

According to him, the situation has left many retirees unable to meet basic needs, including healthcare, despite the strategic importance of the NPA as a major government agency.

He argued that the pension adjustments implemented over the years fall far short of what is stipulated under Section 173 of the Constitution, which guarantees periodic increases in line with prevailing conditions.

Binitie also disclosed that the association had previously written to the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission and the Presidency through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, but said no tangible action has followed.

He further alleged that the NPA had failed to submit necessary documentation to the wages commission for over 15 years, thereby stalling any meaningful review of pension payments.

Addressing concerns about internal divisions within the association, Binitie maintained that all disputes had been resolved through court rulings, affirming the unity of the group.

He referenced a judgement by the Lagos High Court which mandated the conduct of elections, leading to his emergence as president, as well as a subsequent ruling by an Apapa Magistrate Court in 2025 that reaffirmed his leadership.

With tensions rising, the pensioners are now calling on the Federal Government to compel the NPA to settle outstanding benefits, including adjustments tied to the 2024 minimum wage.

The threatened protest, if carried out, could have significant implications for maritime activities across the country, given the central role of Nigeria’s seaports in trade and revenue generation.