Retirees of the Nigerian Ports Authority have threatened to shut down seaports nationwide over 15 years of unpaid pension increments.
The pensioners, under the aegis of the Nigerian Ports Authority Pensioners Welfare Association, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, warning that the protest would begin seven days after publication if their demands are not met.
Their grievances trace back to the failure of the authority’s management to implement the constitutionally mandated five-year pension increase, which they say has remained unfulfilled since 2008.
What they are saying
The pensioners argued that while the law guarantees periodic pension increases every five years and adjustments in line with salary reviews for serving workers, the authority has instead applied arbitrary increments ranging between 3 and 11.5 per cent.
- “The NPA is yet to furnish the Wages Commission with its documents for over 15 years now, so that the necessary upward review can be made,” he said.
They also decried worsening living conditions among retirees amid economic hardship, noting that many struggle to meet basic needs.
- “It is sad and regrettable to say the least, that amid the present high inflation rate and economic downturn in Nigeria, only a few NPA retirees receive up to N100,000, while more than 50% of them earn between N50,000 and as low as N30,000 monthly,” they said.
The association further faulted the disparity between the agency’s status and the welfare of its retirees, stressing that the increments fall short of constitutional provisions.
- “Notwithstanding the fact that the NPA remains a first grade parastatal like the NNPC, its retirees were paid peanuts, and their so called pay rise falls short of the constitutional provision in Section 173, Sub Sect.3,” they added.
More insights
The association dismissed claims of internal disunity, insisting that previous leadership disputes had been resolved through court rulings and that the body now operates with a unified voice.
According to its leadership, the perceived disunity had been a major reason why relevant authorities failed to act on their demands over the years.
It noted that a ruling by the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, directed the conduct of an annual general meeting and elections, which produced the current leadership.
- “In one of the judgements of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, the judge instructed the Board of Trustees to hold an AGM of all the pensioners and thereafter, conduct an election; an action which consequently led to my emergence as the body’s incumbent President.”
The leadership added that a five-year legal battle over alleged impersonation was resolved in its favour, with an Apapa Magistrate Court affirming its president as the legitimate head of the association in September 2025.
What you should know
The dispute comes as the Nigerian Ports Authority projects strong revenue growth, targeting N1.489 trillion in internally generated revenue for 2026, an increase from the N1.468 trillion projection for 2025, which it exceeded.
The agency’s 2026 budget outlines N945 billion for capital projects, N447.5 billion for operating expenses, and N90.6 billion for remittances into the Consolidated Revenue Fund, reflecting its focus on expansion and operational efficiency.
