* Walk out on organisers
Workers in the Cross River State Civil Service have rejected the proposed commencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in the State.
The workers made their feelings known during a one-day sensitization programme on the benefits of implementing the CPS.
The programme was organised by the Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pension under the chairmanship of Comrade Joe Ajaero, the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The programme barely started when the workers began protest at the venue of the event before collectively staging a walkout.
Some workers insisted that they were not consulted before the government decided to embark on the scheme and insisted that it was against their interest.
The workers, who preferred anonymity, wondered about the sudden rush to implement the scheme when a large percentage of the State’s workforce is on the brink of retirement.
The State Chairman of the NLC, Gregory Olayi, declined to make comments after the protest; ditto other leaders of the labour movement in the State.
Following their walkout, the government continued with the programme without the leadership and members of the labour movement.
It is unclear if the government intends to go ahead with the scheme despite the objection of the labour movement.
Governor Bassey Otu promised to embark on the scheme to address the problem faced by retirees in the State.
The governor also promised to offset the about N25 billion gratuities it owes retired workers in the State before the end of the year.