Review our monthly pensions, pensioners urge First Bank

The National Union of Pensioners First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Unit, has issued an ultimatum to the bank’s management demanding a review of their minimum monthly pension to N150,000.

Mr Gimbason John, National Chairman of the Union made the call during a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

John alleged that the bank had continued to refuse implementation of a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and industrial relations matters entered with the union.

According to him, the economic situation in the country is not friendly at the moment and, as a union, we have tried all possible means to make the bank management see reasons but to no avail.

“We, therefore, call on the management of FBN to resume negotiation with the union in the next two weeks or face its wrath.

“The management, as a matter of urgency, should review our pension to an uncompromising figure of N150,000 per month.

“If they fail to do this, we will be left with not other option than to march out our pensioners on the streets of Marina, Lagos to look down the national headquarters of First Bank,” he said.

He also said that many of the pensioners have spent between 30 years and 35 years working in the bank before retirement and there was nothing to show for it.

He, however, called for the pensioners to be represented on the bank’s board, citing their over five per cent shareholding in the company.

“We demand that the bank with immediate effect improve on our monthly pensions, free medical treatment or N300, 000 medical allowance as against the present N30,000, among others.

“We have explored all possible means to make FBN management understand our plight, but to no avail.

“We are now left with no option but to take our destiny into our own hands,” he said.