Strike: NUPRC counters PENGASSAN over pension remittance

<p>The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, on Wednesday, countered the claims of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria as regards the remittance of NUPRC workers’ pensions.</p>, <p>PENGASSAN, through its chapter at the NUPRC, had on Tuesday, grounded activities at the headquarters of the commission in Abuja and other locations nationwide in protest of what it termed “escalating critical concerns affecting staff welfare in the commission.”</p>, <p>The union had, in a letter to the management of the commission, raised issues relating to pension non-remittance, non-conducive work environment, insufficient working tools, staff medicals, outstanding payments of 2023 upfront allowances, unpaid staff claims, unpaid staff on-call-allowance, and the non-payment of outsource personnel.</p>, <p>But in a 65-page document that was seen by our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday, the claims of PENGASSAN were countered by the commission, particularly the aspect about the alleged non-remittance of workers’ pensions to Pension Fund Administrators.</p>, <p>In the document, the commission explained that obligations relating to claims made by the union had been fulfilled and efforts were already in place to achieve closure on the pending items.</p>, <p>It further explained the stages at which all the stated issues had been addressed to date.</p>, <p>The commission’s response to PENGASSAN, as captured in the document, read in part, “First of all, it (NUPRC) explained that contrary to the claims that pension deductions from staff emoluments have not been remitted to the various PFAs in line with the Pension Reform Act 2014, the commission had fully settled all pension deductions.</p>, <p>“Evidence was attached to the response for the union’s attention and verification.”</p>, <p>On the non-conducive work environment, the NUPRC stated that the management explained that an additional working space had been secured in Abuja, while relevant steps had been taken to fit the necessary facilities in t