Some pensioners of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Friday converged at the organisation`s staff club in Lagos to offer prayers for the success of the current management led by Ms Hadiza Usman.
The prayer session, which they tagged ‘ Solemn Assembly’, and which started around 10.00 a.m., lasted for about 50 minutes and was led by both Islamic and Christian clerics.
The pensioners, particularly prayed for good health of the managing director and God`s guidance in her efforts to reform the organisation to its old glory.
They also prayed that God should provide the management with all the means to be able to pay their pension arrears and entitlements as promised by the managing director.
Speaking to Shipping Position Daily after the prayer session, the Chairman of the group, Pastor Ayo Binite said that the Nigerian maritime industry has always been under the control of some untouchable cabals that can do and undo, therefore the management of NPA needs prayers to succeed.
Mr. Binite applauded the present NPA administration describing the Managing Director as a very reasonable person who always stands by her words.
“We are gathering here today to hold a Solemn Assembly to lift up and pray for the Nigerian Port Authority because; just about two weeks ago we had a protest asking for the increment of our pensions from the NPA that have not been done for some years now. But thank God that the person that is leading the management team now is a reasonable person that can be trusted.
“We staged the protest to ask for our entitlements in line with the constitution that pensions should be increased every five years; the normal arrears we have not been paid for 10 years.
“But interestingly enough, the management conceded to our request and they promised to take the appropriate action within three weeks.
“We believe this management, led by Usman, is showing some sincerity of purpose and that we need to support them and work with them to achieve their goals for the organisation.
“So, this prayer session is part of that show of support and we will continue to make ourselves available to the management for advice and inputs on how to move NPA forward,” he said.
Asked what the pensioners would do if the management failed to fulfill its promise to pay at the expiration of the three weeks, Binitie said it was not necessary to think otherwise.
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