By Suleiman Abdulmumin
Retired officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have called on the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS) to address what they describe as an omission in a recent press release that failed to mention the unpaid retirement benefits owed to Customs retirees.
In a statement shared among pensioners, the retirees expressed concern that the union’s communication did not reflect the long-standing issue affecting former personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service who are yet to receive their retirement benefits.
According to them, the union represents retirees from both treasury-funded and self-funding government agencies under the contributory pension scheme. As such, they stressed that fairness and equity require equal attention to the welfare and entitlements of all members, including those from the Nigeria Customs Service.
The retirees used an analogy to describe their concerns, noting that ignoring the plight of Customs pensioners while addressing others is comparable to a parent who cares for two children but abandons one because of deformity an act they described as inconsistent with sincerity and justice.
They also reiterated the long-standing labour principle that “an injury to one is an injury to all,” urging the union leadership to ensure that the interests of Customs retirees are equally represented.
The retirees further appealed to the union to engage the appropriate authorities and provide clarity on the payment of their benefits. They expressed hope that the matter could be resolved before the upcoming Sallah celebration so that affected pensioners could also share in the relief being sought for retirees.
They noted that the unresolved issue is linked to two circulars issued by the National Pension Commission (PenCom), which they acknowledged the union played a role in facilitating. While commending the union for what they described as a significant step toward improving the welfare of retired civil servants under the contributory pension scheme, they emphasized that the effort would only be fully realized when all outstanding retirement benefits are paid.
The appeal was also echoed by members of the Retired Customs Officers Association (RCOA), who reaffirmed their commitment to continued engagement with stakeholders until the issue is resolved.
The retirees maintained that they remain hopeful that relevant authorities will address the matter promptly, stressing that the pursuit of their rightful benefits will continue until the outstanding payments are settled.