By TONY OKAFOR, AWKA
A group, Association of Retired Directors, Deputy Directors and other Officers of the Anambra State Public Service (ARDOS), has opposed the re-election bid of Dr. Anthony Ugozor as Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Anambra State Chapter.
In a statement signed by Sir Fidelis Ezeike (Chairman) and Sir Azuka Okeke (Secretary), the group described Ugozor’s bid for a third term as unconstitutional and illegal.
According to the group, Ugozor has been in office since 2016, having been co-opted into the NUP Exco and later appointed as Acting Chairman following the demise of the then Chairman, Comrade Maduka.
The group said Ugozor had been in the NUP, Anambra State Chapter for 9 years and if he goes if further he would be staying 13 years.
He was subsequently elected as substantive Chairman in 2021.
The group noted that Ugozor’s prolonged stay in office contravenes the NUP constitution, which stipulates that no candidate for any elective office shall be allowed to stay in office for more than two terms consecutively.
The group also accused Ugozor of mismanaging the NUP Anambra State Chapter, citing his appointment of his biological son, Mr. Emmanuel Ugozor, as NUP Finance Officer since 2019, in contravention of the NUP law and Public Service Rules.
ARDOS expressed disappointment that Ugozor’s Exco has not achieved anything positive in respect of the harmonization and upward review of pensions since 2016, despite collecting check-off dues from members.
The group noted that pension review was last carried out in 2003, and pensioners in Anambra State are still receiving peanuts as pension, despite the minimum wage being discussed and passed last year.
The group urged pensioners to note that Ugozor’s re-election bid is unconstitutional and called on delegates to the election slated for July 18, 2025, to vote him out if he persists in contesting.
“We vehemently rebut the false accusations contained in the FIDES Publication under reference,” the group said. “Our aim is to seek implementation of the provisions of section 2010(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, which states that pensions shall be reviewed every five years or together with any civil service salary reviews whichever is earlier.”
The group reiterated its commitment to remaining bona-fide members of the NUP and participating in the forthcoming election to enthronement of an ethical, credible, and responsive Exco in the Anambra State Chapter of the NUP.
