Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigeria Labour Congress in Plateau State has rejected a proposed bill seeking to grant life pension and retirement benefits to members of the Plateau State House of Assembly, threatening to shut down the legislature if the bill is not withdrawn. The NLC, alongside the Trade Union Congress and the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Plateau State, announced plans to picket the Assembly complex on July 30, 2026, describing the proposed legislation as "anti-people, self-serving and insensitive". The unions have vowed to sustain the protest until the bill is withdrawn, accusing lawmakers of abusing the autonomy granted to state legislatures by pursuing policies that serve personal interests rather than the welfare of citizens.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Jos on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, the Chairman of the NLC in Plateau State, Eugene Manji, said organised labour would resist any attempt by lawmakers to pass the bill. "We are picketing the Plateau State House of Assembly on July 30, and we will remain there until this bill is withdrawn. We have the capacity to sustain the protest if necessary," Manji declared. He called on Governor Caleb Mutfwang to intervene and stop the proposed legislation, warning that allowing it to pass "could generate unnecessary tension in the state". Manji further argued that organised labour and civil society groups fought for legislative autonomy to strengthen democratic governance, "not to encourage self-enrichment".
The Chairman of the TUC in Plateau State, Kenneth Shammah, described the proposed pension package as particularly insensitive given the state's long-standing pension crisis. "It is unfortunate that while the government is battling to clear pension arrears dating back to 1986, many parents of these lawmakers are still waiting to receive their pensions. We reject the bill in its entirety," Shammah said. He argued that legislators remained capable of contributing meaningfully to society after leaving office and should not depend on lifetime pensions after serving only one term.
The Convener of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Plateau State, Steve Aluko, also opposed the bill, describing it as "undemocratic, extortionist and against the principles of transparency and accountability". He warned that if the bill was not withdrawn, the coalition would join organised labour in shutting down the State House of Assembly. "Public office should be about service rather than personal enrichment," Aluko said. The coalition further threatened to publish the names of lawmakers sponsoring the bill and mobilise their constituents against them.
The controversial bill, sponsored by Eli Ankala, a member representing Rukuba-Irigwe Constituency, has already passed its first and second readings in the Assembly. Ankala argued that the proposed law would establish the Plateau State House of Assembly Pension Board to manage pensions, remove ghost pensioners, and ensure accountability and transparent management of pension funds. However, civil society groups have condemned the bill for passing two readings on the same day without sufficient legislative scrutiny or public engagement. The apparent absence of a public hearing for a bill with significant fiscal implications, they argued, "undermines transparency, weakens public confidence in the legislative process and contradicts the principles of participatory democracy".
The Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State has also condemned the proposed legislation, describing it as "reckless, insensitive and a gross abuse of public trust". According to the party, if passed into law, the legislation would create a dangerous precedent by turning public office into "an avenue for lifetime private enrichment rather than a platform for selfless public service". The PDP called on the lawmakers to immediately halt consideration of the bill, make its full contents public, and subject it to a transparent public hearing.
As of the time of filing this report, the Plateau State House of Assembly had yet to officially respond to the position of the labour unions and civil society organisations. The coalition has urged Plateau residents, religious organisations and other stakeholders to support the planned protest, warning that it would mobilise citizens against lawmakers who sponsor the bill. With the Assembly yet to issue an official response and the July 30 protest date approaching, tensions continue to mount in Jos as labour unions and civil society groups prepare for what could be a major confrontation over the proposed legislation.
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