The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said yesterday that, contrary to reports in a section of the media concerning payment of entitlement to 530 of its disengaged workers, it has discharged its responsibilities to the embattled ex-employees.
In a statement signed by its assistant general manager, Corporate and Strategic Communication; Mr Ibrahim Nasir, the NPA described the report as capable of portraying the organisation as irresponsible, especially to its ex-workers.
Explaining its side of the story, the NPA stated that even though, the workers were disengaged in May 2008, in fulfilment of all port reform preconditions, and based on the provision of the Public Service Reform guidelines, “the process of concluding this exercise led to delay in the implementation of the monetization policy of the Federal Government. Therefore, to comply with the preconditions, implementation of the policy commenced 1st July, 2008 after the May 2008 rationalization exercise.”
It went further to explain that there was agitation from the two unions in the NPA, for the affected ex-workers to enjoy the monetization policy of the government, the implementation of which was back-dated to April, 2008.
Thus, the affected workers were paid arrears of two months, NPA said, even as the organisation stated that, “in compliance with the directives of the Federal Government in the public service guidelines, those affected by the rationalization exercise were not entitled to the monetization and enhanced staff allowances as it was a precondition before implementation of the scheme thus the two months of monetization arrears paid to them was regarded as an error made and accepted in good faith”.
In the statement, the NPA gave details of how the ex-workers were paid. It disclosed that they were paid, “three (3) months’ salary in lieu based on their salaries at the time of disengagement, gratuity calculated in line with their salary at the date of exit, May 31st, 2008, and 10% pension & gratuity as compensation due to reorganization was paid to them as provided for in the Pension Act (Decree 102 of 1979)”.
In addition, they were paid, “Pension Contribution remittance to their RSA, accrued pension right remitted to their PFA/RSA using the Alexander Forbes actuarial valuation as at 31st May, 2008. The approved template by the Bureau of Public Service Reform and Federal Ministry of Transport was used for their payment”, and that, “repatriation allowance was paid to them based on the components of the template from the Bureau of Public Service Reform Guidelines”, the NPA added.
According to the organisation, “giving the foregoing, it is clear that their entitlements were fully paid based on the policy guidelines of the Federal Government Reforms programme”.
It however added that, based on further agitation by the former employees, the two unions still persuaded the NPA “to consider some palliative measures without recourse to the issues that were earlier addressed (Pension, Gratuity and Repatriation) do not arise or is not of place”.
“To finally address the matter and put it to rest, a 200% of one-year total emolument amounting to ?770,386,586.22 (Seven hundred and seventy million, three hundred and eighty-six thousand, five hundred and eighty-six Naira, twenty- two Kobo) for the 530 earlier affected by the exercise was agreed with the group”.
It disclosed that, in October 11th, 2013 a joint Communique was reached on the final payment to the 2008 disengaged employees”
Quoting copiously from the Pension Reform Act and the various statues, the NPA argued that the employees who were disengaged in May, 2008 “are not part of the Defined Pension Scheme which effectively ended on 3rd July, 2007 as they were enrolled in the New Contributory Pension Reform Scheme with all remittance to their Pension Funds Account Managers made.”
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