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Local government

Akwa Ibom Labour Unions Withdraw from Planned Protest Over Pension Arrears

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Akwa Ibom have withdrawn from the planned protest and strike scheduled for September 2025, citing the state governor's efforts to clear outstanding arrears and pay pensions, leave grants, and promotion arrears to its workers. The unions' decision to withdraw comes as a relief to the state government, which had been at the receiving end of criticism over the delayed payment of pension arrears. The state chairman of NULGE, Comrade Anestina Iweh, and the secretary, Comrade Ofunne Christopher Chidi, issued a joint statement explaining the union's reasons for withdrawing from the planned strike.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Akwa Ibom have withdrawn from the planned protest and strike scheduled for September 2025.
  • The unions announced their withdrawal in separate statements issued in Uyo, citing the state governor's efforts to clear outstanding arrears and pay pensions, leave grants, and promotion arrears to local government workers.
  • NULGE noted that the state governor has cleared gratuity arrears from 2014-2018 and currently 2019, paying pensions promptly, settling leave grants, and paying promotion arrears.
  • The state chairman of NULGE, Comrade Anestina Iweh, and the secretary, Comrade Ofunne Christopher Chidi, jointly signed the statement explaining the union's reasons for withdrawing from the planned strike.
  • The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) also disagreed with the planned protest, noting that the NLC was heading in the wrong direction, and citing a discussion with the Head of Service on the 32,000 pension increase demand.
  • The AKWA Ibom state branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had resolved to embark on strike over the failed implementation of the N32,000 cash addition to all pensioners.

Statistics:

  • N32,000: the cash addition to all pensioners as directed by the National Income and Wages Commission (NIWC)
  • 2014-2018: the period during which the state governor has cleared gratuity arrears
  • 2019: the year in which the state governor has currently paid gratuity arrears
  • September 2025: the planned date of the strike, which has been withdrawn from by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP)

Sources:

  • Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) statement, issued in Uyo, Thursday.
  • Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) statement, issued in Uyo, Thursday.
  • Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) resolution to embark on strike over the failed implementation of the N32,000 cash addition to all pensioners.

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