President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Biodun Ogunyemi on Monday lamented the plight of university retirees.
Ogunyemi condemned delay in the payment of retirement benefits for the members.
He spoke on Monday at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State during ASUU Sensitization Workshop on Implications of Contributory Pension Scheme.
Ogunyemi, represented by the Zonal Coordinator, Abuja branch, Theophilus Lagi, said it was appalling that workers who had diligently served Nigeria were not appreciated.
He said university retirees have been subjected to all inhuman treatment – ranging from monthly shuttles between their locations to State or Federal headquarters to “trace” documents; endless queues at verification centres, sometimes resulting in death casualties.
The ASUU leader noted that to properly tackle the challenges, establishment of Nigerian University Pension Management Company (NUPEMCO) had become imperative.
He said: “Eminent scholars and senior colleagues who retired from the Nigerian University System (NUS) in the last two decades or so have not been spared of these and other forms of undignified treatment.
“NUPEMCO is an expression of the basic commitment of our Union to the protection of the life and the future of members of the university community. For this reason, it is our duty to nurture it to become the best in the industry.”
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