The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said it has concluded all payment matters involving the May 2008 disengaged 530 workers.
A statement signed by Ibrahim Nasir, assistant general manager, Corporate and Strategic Communication, debunked recent claims by the disengaged workers that they were yet to be paid all their entitlements.
According to Nasir, the disengaged workers were affected by the rationalisation scheme in line with the guidelines of the Public Service Reform, but due to some procedural delay, it took time to implement the monetisation of their disengagement.
Stating that a letter of indemnity was duly signed by all of them before the amount due to each of them was paid, Nasir stated that the NPA’s responsibility to the disengaged workers was concluded with the payment of N753,731,001.24 for the final list of 517.
He said implementation of the policy commenced 1st July, 2008 after the May 2008 rationalisation exercise. “Agitation for payment of arrears on monetisation based on the January approval date, resulted in the agreement to pay arrears of three months to all exiting employees from April to June, 2008 hence the two months’ arrears which was paid to them after their exit.”
The statement further reads: “In compliance with the directives of the Federal Government in the public service guidelines, those affected by the rationalisation exercise were not entitled to the monetisation and enhanced staff allowances as it was a precondition before implementation of the scheme. Thus, the two months of monetisation arrears paid to them was regarded as an error made and accepted in good faith.”
He listed entitlement paid to the workers to include: three months’ salary in lieu based on their salaries at the time of disengagement; gratuity calculated in line with their salary at the date of exit, May 31st, 2008; 10 percent pension and gratuity as compensation as provided for in the Pension Act (Decree 102 of 1979) and pension contribution remittance to their RSA.
The authority also paid accrued pension right remitted to their PFA/RSA using the Alexander Forbes actuarial valuation as at 31st May, 2008, which is the approved template by the Bureau of Public Service Reform and Federal Ministry of Transport.
“Repatriation allowance was paid to them based on the components of the template from the Bureau of Public Service Reform Guidelines. Giving the foregoing, it is clear that their entitlements were fully paid based on the policy guidelines of the Federal Government Reforms programme, said Nasir, who reiterated that the NPA prioritises the welfare of its staff.
AMAKA ANAGOR-EWUZIE
