Kwara: Uneasy calm over alleged corruption in Nigeria Union of Pensioners

There are strong indications that all is not well in the Kwara State office of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, as allegations have been levelled against the leadership by a yet-to-be-identified group within the union.

The group had informed other pensioners that N2,000 was illegally being deducted monthly by the leadership from the monthly pension salaries.

It also alleged that the current leadership of the union was dominated by retirees of the local government councils and run the union’s administration like the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT.

Reacting to the development, the state Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Malam Saidu Oladimeji Mahmud, condemned the allegations, saying, “they are distractions.”

He described as false allegations that N2,000 was being dedicated monthly from pensioners’ salaries and that the leadership was dominated by retirees of the local government councils.

Saidu, explained that aside from the official deductions from sources of payment, “there is no truth in the alleged deductions by the leadership of the union.”

He also stated that the leadership of the union cuts across the three senatorial districts in the state, with only two retirees of the local government as members.

The chairman explained that elections for the leadership of the union are conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the union; hence the issue of dominance by a particular group was not tenable.

He challenged the group to come forward with its grievances and dialogue with the leadership rather than create a crisis in the union.