The National Association of Retirees of State Governments of Nigeria, NARSGON, has officially unveiled and inaugurated a ten-member interim executive committee that will pilot its affairs, coordinate all its programmes and champion the cause of improved welfare for retired civil servants in Akwa Ibom State, in a move described as historic and long overdue.

The inauguration ceremony, which was held amidst jubilation, excitement and a renewed sense of hope among pensioners, came shortly after the successful registration and recognition of the association by the Federal Government as a trade union with full legal powers to protect, defend and promote the rights, privileges and welfare of retired state government workers across the federation.

The epoch-making event, which attracted pensioners from all walks of life, took place at the union’s state secretariat situated at Number 7, Port Harcourt Street, by Calabar Street in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, and had in attendance retired permanent secretaries, directors, senior civil servants and junior retirees drawn from the 31 local government areas.

Addressing the gathering shortly after his inauguration, the newly inaugurated State Chairman of the association, Comrade Maclens S. Ikpe, expressed deep and profound gratitude to Almighty God for making the registration of the union a reality, after many years of frustration, rejection, struggles, petitions and bureaucratic hurdles at the federal ministry of labour.

Comrade Ikpe, a retired senior civil servant with decades of experience in public service and a respected voice in the labour movement in Akwa Ibom State, also appreciated members of the association for finding him and other members of the interim executive worthy to lead the union at this very critical formative period in its history in the state.

He promised to run an open, inclusive, transparent and purposeful leadership that will prioritize the welfare of members above personal interests, stressing that his administration will work day and night, with sincerity of purpose and fear of God, to ensure that retired civil servants in Akwa Ibom regain their dignity, respect and lost glory.

The Chairman, who spoke with emotion and passion, lamented that many retirees in Akwa Ibom State are currently passing through untold hardship, excruciating pain, abject poverty and dehumanizing conditions, as many cannot afford food, shelter, medical bills and school fees for their children due to non-payment of gratuities and irregular pension payments.

He noted that it is disheartening and unacceptable that people who gave 35 years of their youthful age, strength, knowledge and energy to serve Akwa Ibom State are now left to beg, borrow and wallow in poverty, while some have died without receiving their retirement benefits after serving the state meritoriously and faithfully.

To address this challenge, Comrade Ikpe said his immediate and urgent priority as Chairman will be to establish and inaugurate local government chapters and executive committees in all 31 local government areas of the state, in order to decentralize the activities of the union and bring it closer to members at the grassroots.

He explained that the local government structures will help in effective mobilisation, proper documentation, verification and registration of all retirees in the state, as well as serve as channels for disseminating information, collecting complaints and engaging government at the local and state levels on matters affecting pensioners.

Comrade Ikpe also appealed passionately to all members to remain united, disciplined, focused, steadfast and committed to the ideals, vision and mission of the association, warning that disunity, gossip, backbiting and personal ambition will only weaken the union and give room for enemies of pensioners to continue to oppress them.

According to him, NARSGON was established to fill a long-existing vacuum and gap in the labour movement in Nigeria, as the existing pensioners’ unions have over the years failed to adequately protect the interests of state government retirees, leaving them at the mercy of state governments who treat their welfare with levity.

He explained further that with its registration as a full-fledged trade union, NARSGON now possesses the legal backing, constitutional authority, institutional legitimacy and industrial capacity to negotiate with state governments, collaborate with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, and seek redress in the National Industrial Court.

The Chairman disclosed that the new executive will immediately commence a comprehensive state-wide verification, enumeration and registration exercise of all retired civil servants in Akwa Ibom State, with the aim of building a credible, authentic and comprehensive database that will aid planning, advocacy and negotiation with government.

He added that the association will, as a matter of urgency, engage the Akwa Ibom State Government led by Pastor Umo Eno on critical and burning issues such as the backlog of gratuities owed to retirees from 2012 till date, harmonisation of pensions, implementation of minimum pension and provision of healthcare support for elderly retirees.

Comrade Ikpe called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to see retirees not as liabilities or spent forces, but as partners in progress, critical stakeholders and elder statesmen whose experience, wisdom and institutional memory are still needed for the development, peace and progress of the state and for mentoring younger workers.

He noted that improving the welfare of retirees will also serve as a morale booster for serving civil servants, who will be assured that their own retirement will not be a journey into poverty and neglect, but into a period of rest, dignity and honour after many years of active service to the state and fatherland.

Other members of the Akwa Ibom State interim executive committee who were inaugurated alongside the Chairman include Comrade Okon Ekpo Edenseting who will serve as Vice Chairman, Comrade Etim Usanga as Secretary, Comrade Joseph Udoh as Assistant Secretary, Comrade Nabuk Enang as Treasurer and Comrade Christopher Uyoh as Financial Secretary.

The rest are Comrade Theresa Ayua who will serve as Women Leader and Coordinator of Women Affairs, Comrade Edet Eduokakpa as Publicity Secretary and Image Maker of the union, Comrade Linus Etuk as Auditor and Comrade Bassey Etentuk as Welfare Officer, all selected based on integrity, antecedents and commitment to the retirees’ cause.

In their separate goodwill messages, some of the newly inaugurated executive members expressed gratitude to members for the confidence reposed in them and pledged to work harmoniously, loyally and selflessly with the Chairman to ensure that the objectives of the association are realised and that pensioners get their rightful entitlements.

Some retirees who spoke at the event expressed overwhelming joy, relief and optimism that a new dawn has finally come for pensioners in Akwa Ibom State, noting that for many years they have been voiceless, helpless and hopeless, but with NARSGON, they now have a strong, legal and vocal platform that will fight for them.

They therefore called on all retired civil servants in Akwa Ibom State, irrespective of grade level, cadre or years of service, whether retired as permanent secretaries, directors or junior staff, to come out en masse and register with the association, stressing that the struggle for improved welfare requires collective participation.

The inauguration ceremony, which lasted for several hours, ended with a special prayer session for the success of the interim executive committee, for good health, long life and prosperity for all retirees, and for the peace, unity, progress and continued development of Akwa Ibom State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a whole.