NPA pensioners threaten port shutdown over 16 years of unpaid benefits

Retirees of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) have issued a stark warning: pay up or face a shutdown of the country’s seaports.

Under the umbrella of the NPA Pensioners Welfare Association, the retirees say they will embark on a nationwide protest within seven days if long-standing pension issues remain unresolved. According to the group, the planned action could escalate into a disruption of port operations across Nigeria.

At the centre of the dispute is what the pensioners describe as more than 16 years of unpaid or inadequately adjusted benefits. The association’s president, Charles Ayo Binitie, said the crisis stems from the failure of NPA management to implement the constitutionally backed five-year pension increment since 2008.

He painted a grim picture of life after service, noting that many retirees now struggle to survive amid rising inflation and economic pressure. According to him, only a small number of pensioners earn as much as ₦100,000 monthly, while more than half receive between ₦50,000 and as low as ₦30,000.

Binitie argued that this falls short of provisions outlined in Section 173 of the Constitution, which mandates periodic pension reviews. Instead, he alleged that increases applied by the authority have been arbitrary, often ranging between 3 and 11.5 per cent, far below expectations.

Despite repeated efforts to resolve the matter, including petitions to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and appeals to the presidency through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the group says no meaningful action has been taken.

He also dismissed claims of internal division within the association, pointing to court rulings that affirmed its leadership. A 2025 judgment by an Apapa magistrate court, he said, settled a prolonged leadership dispute in his favour, reinforcing the association’s legitimacy.

The pensioners are now calling on the federal government to compel the NPA to settle outstanding entitlements, including adjustments tied to the 2024 minimum wage. For them, the situation has moved beyond negotiation; what remains is a countdown to action that could test Nigeria’s already fragile port system.

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