We would have ignored the ranting of this inconsequential group for its lack of content and merit save for the fact that keeping mute in the face of this crass innuendo might connote conceding to the blatant lies spewed by this band. It must be rightly placed in the context of the press conference granted by these elements that there is no direct correlation between light and darkness. They purposely refused to address the issues raised in the petition sent to EFCC by the forum because they lack better argument and foresight. Instead they deliberately chose to flimflam and whip up unnecessary sentiments. At no time did the illiterates seen reading prepared speech subscribe to our membership. They have no accommodation in the process of our noble cause. In their state of amnesia, they ignorantly described the petition sent by the forum as baseless, and one that can further delay the receipt of their outstanding benefits, which the unions are fighting to see materialise. This is completely laughable. Nothing too is further from the truth. They have only succeeded in being smart by half and telling some ex-staff what they would momentarily want to hear.
All the ex-staff of PHCN in Kaduna and other zones are hereby informed that, the representatives of the forum visited BPE on 23rd November where an official letter demanding for the full payment of the shortfall observed in the payment of Severance Benefits and other entitlements of ex-staff was submitted. The letter among others gave a 14 day ultimatum to BPE to set machinery in motion to ensure that our demands are met. The obvious land mines laid by the unions to frustrate the demands of the forum and payment of entitlements of ex-staff by compelling BPE to direct every issues arising therefrom to the unions were safely detonated. The forum awaits BPE’s response. A BPE official who pleaded anonymity revealed that the only delay which could hamper the payment of our remaining entitlements especially the 16 months arrears might be the fact that the National Council on Privatisation which is saddled with the responsibility of approval of payments has not been constituted. One wonders were these folks got the myopic idea that the petition on the unauthorised deduction of 7.7 billion sent to EFCC hampers unpaid entitlements. Is BPE now the same with EFCC?
We are glad to inform the general public and the unfortunate wailing wailers that the petition sent to EFCC by the forum is getting the desired attention and yielding fruitful results. The wind has blown and everybody can now see the chicken’s rump. The National, Zonal and State officers of NUEE/SSAEC are edgy and in state of perpetual apprehension having vividly seen the manacles hovering. In fact, they have come to the sudden realisation of the impending doom and an end to an era of ineffective leadership. The incontrovertible truth was that officials of NUEE/SSAEC are running from pillar to post in search of solutions. THEY WILL NEVER FIND ONE UNTIL THEY REFUND IN FULL ALL THAT THEY OWE ALL THE EX-STAFF INCLUDING THESE INFANTS who granted the press conference. Conscripting a people bereft of knowledge, ideas and wisdom: those who we all know their antecedents and little worth even when we were in the service of PHCN Kaduna Zone as a front to prosecute this war is a hard sell. The forum has it on good authority that the whole entitlement of ex-staff was appropriated in 2013. Question: What stopped the payments of the remaining entitlements as captured in the entire Severance Package three years after only one item was paid? While the unions feast on the huge deduction made from our collective sweat and globe-trot at the expense of ex-staff, various problems arising from the payment of staff entitlements have been left to those concerned to sort them out individually.
Those who claimed to have sent a letter to EFCC should brandish the acknowledgment copy as is the tradition of this forum. It makes common sense. These people have lost touch with the reality of life. The forum’s alignment with the anti-corruption drive of this administration must have jolted them to their marrow. In their witlessness, they asserted that “Union dues have been in existence since inception of trade unions and shall continue to exist as long as unions exist. There is nowhere in the world where an individual or group of individuals of any union who were retired, disengaged or voluntarily exited the union come back to demand for ‘profit on investment’ as they called it.” The forum begs to differ from this archaic belief and tradition. If the union is not a cooperative society where members demand for profit/dividend annually, then what is it? A Santa Claus for union officials or conduit pipe for fleecing members? The era of impunity and financial rascality is over! Here comes a new dawn of change.
As peoples’ faces differ so are their understandings. The forum will no longer waste time arguing with these ignoramuses on the extinction of unions after payment of Severance Benefits because they are those described as who do not know; still they do not want to know. They falsely added that, “the calculation of staff final entitlement was not shrouded in secrecy as the parameters used as the computation of severance was arrived at by the committee set up by the Federal Government which included stakeholders from BPE, PHCN, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Labour, three in-house unions and the EFCC.” Question: who among the ex-staff including these infants has seen it? Why was it not attached like the Severance Pay Advise? It is the absolute right of the forum or any other ex-staff to raise questions on his entitlements, on how 7.7 billion deduction and others were spent. Nobody, not even these infants can stop the forum. The forum has refused to take the cowardly role of a sheep which kept mute as it is led to the slaughter slab. It stands to demystify this old deceptive order. A servant is not greater than his master but the reverse is the case in the two unions where ordinary employees arrogate upon themselves the toga of masters. With the resolve of the forum, stringent steps and measures taken so far, the repressive old tradition has come crashing. Let the message reverberate in the ears of officials of both NUEE/SSAEC that the day of reckoning is near, very near. Any attempt to frustrate efforts aimed at ensuring the refund of the 7.7 billion, any attempt to frustrate enthronement of accountability on how the 7.7 billion was expended, any attempt to frustrate investigation of the entire processes leading to the payment of Severance Benefits of ex-staff or anyone who lined his private pockets with benefits of ex-staff should be ready to contend with the forces, wrath and consequences of the law.
After various failed attempts to intimidate, harass, distract and divide us failed, deceiving the public by hiding behind the potency of the media to churn out blatant lies will fail woefully also because the media is not dumb like them. The media has a constitutional responsibility to bring to account actions of governments and groups including the two unions. This is exactly what we have chosen to do. What head or tail could one make out of the antics of a famished group standing against a moving process beneficial to them if not for the fact that they sheepishly preferred to. The worst form of treachery takes place when one foolishly chooses to constitute a standard against action beneficial to one. Let it be on record that the operational latitude for any group irrespective of mission is endless. We therefore do not inhibit any group from lawful assembly. No group should either attempt to blackmail or gag us too in any form or guise. The forum has happily chosen to trouble shoot, reveal, disclose, compel actions and identify the hidden truth and facts of the withheld and unpaid entitlements for the special delight of ex-staff. The rod will not be spared to spoil the child. THE FORUM IS NOT RESTING ON ITS OARS UNTILL THE 7.7 BILLION UNAUTHORISED DEDUCTION IS REFUNDED WHILE ENSURING THAT OTHER REMAINING BENEFITS ARE PAID TO ALL. For us in the forum, we have totally embraced change and change must also begin with the unions. Finally, the sky is capacious and capable of accommodating any flying bird. We are the light and when light appears, darkness as usual flees!
Sunday Onyemaechi Eze
For: PHCN STAFF FORUM, Kaduna
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