As the Federal Government and labour representatives move to resume the deadlocked talks with workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria over their factitious pension fund, there are indications of fresh obstacles to successful negotiations.

Essentially, the House of Representatives Committee on Power is not in favour of giving a special treatment to the embattled PHCN workers in the ongoing privatisation exercise.

Saturday PUNCH investigations showed that members of the House Committee Chairman on Power, led by Patrick Ikhariale, want the issue of PHCN workers resolved in accordance with the provisions of the 2004 Pension Act, which makes the employee to contribute 7.5 percent of his salary, and an equal amount from the employer.

The Ikhariale committee is of the view that it will be wrong for the FG to give 15 percent contribution to the workers of the PHCN in violation of the 2004 PA since their counterparts who are under the contributory pension are getting 7.5 percent.

A labour leader told Saturday PUNCH on Friday that the talks, which are expected to resume next week, would commence soon.

He however warned that government operatives should avoid grandstanding on the issue, though he wasn’t specific on the new date for the talks that are expected to take care of the labour content of the ongoing privatisation of the PHCN.

Also, a vice-president of the National Union of Electricity Employees, Mr. Etete Ntukuben, confirmed on the telephone that “the talks would resume very soon,” though he too couldn’t give a specific date.

The position of the lawmakers (7.5 percent) follows overtures from the FG to offer 15 percent of the workers’ salaries to them as their pension arrears.

But organised labour and the PHCN workers are insisting on approaching the negotiations with their earlier demand of 25 percent of the total emolument, a demand which is being resisted by those negotiating on behalf of the government.

A member of the government’s negotiating team said that “even the 15 percent being proposed as a settlement to the wage dispute is being done on compassionate grounds in the interest of peace.”

But Ntukuben said on Friday that the workers would only insist on what they considered to be their proper entitlements.

According to him, PHCN workers’ demand for 25 percent of total emoluments of their salaries was part of the condition of service.

He said that it was the position of workers that the condition of service remained a legal document which should be followed in the resolution of the impasse between the workers and the FG over pension and gratuities.

He stated however that PHCN workers did not have confidence in the negotiations and were waiting to see what the government would offer.

"No we wont let you have what you rightly deserve! %25 is too much for you!
Mind you there will always be a %1000 increase in our salary, allowances and emoluments every other month when we do our routine pay review."

omiobo: why 25%? For what na? When the pension acts say 7.5% of employee and 7.5% of employer. How did 25% come in?

chiteny: Their reaction is normal. Whenever it is proposed that their salaries+allowances should be increased 100% you will never hear them reject it. Instead they will do when they know best:

All in support of it say I (every where roars in support), Those not in support say A (and everywhere is silent)

erniok:
Yes, the act stipulated 7.5% but has FG been keeping their own part of the bargain?

erniok:
Yes, the act stipulated 7.5% but has FG been keeping their own part of the bargain?

Pennywise: The workers have a right to demand for 100% emolument not even 25%.

But govt is irresponsible for going beyond constitutional provision of 7.5%. This is not GEJ money to spend as it pleases him. What is the justification for the additional 7.5% to workers who symbolize laziness and mediocrity?

This is yet another impeachable offence of the govt about to be signed into an illegal unconstitutional 'agreement'

trigar12: These i.d.o.t.s just wants to dispose PHCN workers like they did to NITEL. Well, HOUSE OF I.D.O.T.S MUST PAY THEM THEIR ENTITLEMENT

thelastPope:

My guy, government does not work like that. Some of you sound too draconian. Abi you be Fashola brother? (#justjoking) lol. Personally I do not agree that government should give them the additional 7.5% but putting it the way you have done is too dogmatic and draconian. Leadership is about diplomacy. What is best for everyone. The government I understand is trying to avoid issues that will mitigate against the power road map and privatisation. It isnt an impeachable offence. It is a negotiation between government and workers. The monies to pay the extra is coming from the privatisation itself. We just need to get rid of these PHCN guys because they have been the real problem of power in Nigeria. I do like the Reps input on this though I question their motive. They may be looking at frustrating the whole process so we have to be weary of them. Lets see how it unfolds

Ozonna: Inasmuch as I hate Reps with a passion, I stand with them on this matter. Infact if I'm a Rep member and GEJ pays these PHCN pple 15%, I'll raise a motion of impeachment against GEJ. Its an impeachable offence to pay others 7.5% and PHCN workers will get 15-25%.

untainted: Guys please do a little research;
Before the new pension Act 2004 came into force, staff of NEPA
contributed 25% of their earnings as pension savings.
Even after 2004, they did not join the contributory pension scheme.
I think there are other agencies that manage their pension themselves.
Now FG wants to dispose of the company; What do you think should be done?

erniok: The PHCN employees and their unions hated prof. Barth Nnaji for proposing 15% and called him names. I now wonder what they will call our dear honourables with their statutory 7.5%.

TopAnalyst:

”The BPE said the 25 per cent pay was a “mere provision by the management of the PHCN towards funding the superannuation fund with no physical deduction reflected in the pay slip of any employee of the company and as such, it noted that the claim by the unions could not be correct.

SOURCE:
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/business/phcn-pension-bpe-pencom-partner-for-speedy-payment-of-25-severance-pay/

coolkaboom: Make d phcn guys go sleep. Na because GEJ mumu dem dey flex muscle. If na d brute frm otta, who born dem make noise? They r vicariously liable for d rot in d power industry and r nothin but a bunch of economic saboteurs who have been living fat off d funds poured into power infratructur in d past 2 decades, all we hav is darkness to show. How is their case diff from nitel, airways, railways, etc and other dead govt agencies?